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While the state legislature has not formally legalized online poker in California, bettors continue to wager with offshore operators. Offshore brands aren’t prohibited in CA, and there’s a huge range of licensed sites that you can access.
But what are the best poker sites in California? Our poker experts have analyzed your options and made some recommendations, based on factors such as welcome offers, tournament availability, and rakeback.
List of the Best Online Poker Sites in California
We’ll explore each of the leading California poker sites in depth later. However, let’s start with a brief look at California’s top online poker sites.- CoinPoker – 150% welcome bonus up to $2,000 plus 33% rakeback rewards for all players in $CHP
- ACR Poker – $2,000 welcome poker bonus + Play for a share of $50 million in the poker OSS series
- BetOnline Poker – Daily freeroll tournaments for beginners + 100% new player bonus up to $1,000
- Bovada Poker – 100% welcome bonus up to $500 using the code PWB500
- Ignition Poker – Welcome bonus of up to $3,000 with 50% for poker and 50% for casino games
- Stake US – 25,000 Gold Coins + 1 Sweep Coin for social poker and casino play once registered
- Black Chip Poker – $2,000 deposit bonus up to 100% + $400k guaranteed tournaments every Thursday
- Sportsbetting.ag Poker – $1,000 welcome bonus up to 100% + New open face pineapple poker game
- Ya Poker – First deposit bonus of 100% up to $2,000 + $400k tournaments on Thursdays
- Phenom Poker – 35% poker rakeback bonus + 200% welcome bonus up to $4,000
Top 5 CA Online Poker Sites Reviewed
We will now delve a little deeper into the best online poker sites in California. While California’s legislation continues to battle for state-regulated online poker, we recommend a few offshore poker sites for players looking to play online poker in the Golden State.
CoinPoker is California’s best poker site, offering a diverse range of Texas Hold ‘em, pot-limit Omaha, and 5-card pot-limit Omaha variations. The site’s no-limit Texas Hold ‘em game also holds the record for the biggest-ever online poker pot, which stands at a staggering $7.75 million.
The site’s rakeback offer peaks at 33%, but you must hold at least 50% of the payable rake in CoinPoker’s native CHP to cash in. We also like the packed tournament schedule here, which also includes a large number of Big Stacks and Free Buy events. Then there’s the ‘CSOP’ tournament, which guarantees a minimum prize of $1 million.
Pros:
- Attractive welcome bonus of 150% up to $2,000
- A library of poker tutorials for beginner poker players
- New tournament feature called Centrolls, with the ability to play tournaments for just $0.01
- 33% rakeback is paid back to your account every Monday
Cons:
- All bonuses and rakeback are paid out in the native token $CHP
ACR offers you tremendous flexibility when it comes to rakeback offers. For example, a flat 27% rate of Rakeback is ideal for casual players, while there’s an Elite Benefits program that enables sharks and high-rollers to access rakeback above 50% depending on the amount that they bet.
There’s an impressive selection of on-demand tournaments at ACR, too, while the site’s “Rebuy” events enable you to recoup lost chips and stake amounts during competitive play. We also like the selection of 5-Card Omaha Hi/Lo cash games here, which feature average buy-ins of between $0.02 and $200.
Pros:
- New $50 million Online Super Series with massive guaranteed prize pools
- $300k guaranteed prize fund in the weekly Sunday Moneymaker
- Elite VIP program with rewards up to $20,000
- Increased game security using the ACR reshuffle technology.
Cons:
- The welcome bonus has a 60-day redemption time period
One of the standout features at BetOnline is the site’s Tournament Money Builders. These competitive tournaments feature low buy-ins (ranging from $1.10 to $22). These tournaments also unlock minimum guaranteed prizes, with some pots peaking above $430. Most tournaments here follow Texas Hold’em and Omaha formats.
You can also access Progressive Bounty tournaments, with the $10,000 GTD 6-Max PKO unlocking a guaranteed minimum prize of $10,000. In terms of cash games, you play No Limit Hold ’em for between $0.05 $5 on average, while faster-paced ‘Boost’ cash games are also available to NLHE and PLO players.
Pros:
- $1,000 poker bonus up to 100% on first deposit
- Free HUD (Heads Up Display) software for all tournament players
- New poker cashout features for players playing in cash games
- All-in pot splits with the new run it twice and run it thrice feature
Cons:
- Minimum deposit for bonus eligibility is $50
While Bovada has a smaller collection of cash games and tournaments than CoinPoker and BetOnline, there’s still plenty of competitive action here. The site’s Turbo tournaments feature competitive buy-ins and minimum payouts of $10,000, for example, while Bovada offers a total of $2 million in weekly prizes across all its poker verticals.
When it comes to cash games, this poker room features various iterations of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo. Some fixed-limit games even enable you to stake up to $60, which will appeal to high rollers. Although there’s no formal rakeback offer here, the site boasts impressive player traffic and variable bet limits.
Pros:
- $2 million in weekly guaranteed tournament prize pools
- $10 minimum deposit on BTC and LTC is available for the poker welcome bonus
- New anonymous player feature keeps your ID and playing style secret
- Fully formatted mobile poker app for mobile and tablet devices using iOS and Android
Cons:
- $20 minimu deposit is needed to take advantage of the main bonus offer
Ignition Poker is an excellent choice for crypto users, thanks to the site’s welcome offer. If you deposit using one of the site’s accepted tokens, you can qualify for a $3,000 welcome package and a $2,500 weekly poker freeroll. When crediting your new account with fiat currency, the welcome package is just $2,000.
Ignition also operates a so-called Zone Poker feature. This includes accessible cash games with guaranteed minimum payouts. There’s a large selection of Jackpot Sit and Go tournaments too, which feature buy-ins ranging from $0.50 to $100. You can also qualify for a weekly $200K guaranteed tournament through various satellite events.
Pros:
- Exclusive $2,500 weekly freeroll for players depositing with crypto
- Welcome bonuses available for crypto ($3,000) and fiat ($2,000) depositing new players
- More than $218k Guaranteed in the weekly Sunday Triple Header series
- $200 cash bonus anytime you hit a Royal Flush
Cons:
- Bonus is split 50% poker and 50% casino
Is Online Poker Legal in California?
The technical answer is no. However, while the state has yet to legalize the practice or create a regulated marketplace formally, no laws prohibit you from frequenting offshore sites to play online poker.
So, as a CA resident, you can safely start playing online poker at any of the sites listed above. These operators are all fully licensed by trusted offshore regulators, such as Curaçao eGaming or the Panama Gaming Authority. When choosing your preferred offshore site, you should always ensure that it holds a reputable license.
Regulations and Laws for Poker in California
While there was a rush to legalize online poker in CA between 2015 and 2017, enthusiasm has waned. This has much to do with the unresolved conflicts involving tribal casinos, revenue-sharing rules, and the different card rooms involved in online poker legislation talks.
Some online poker bills also include a so-called and disputed “bad actor” clause. This would prohibit sites like PokerStars from receiving a license following the fallout from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.
Currently, there are no formal plans to legalize poker in California. The state has yet to legalize sports betting and online gambling, so legal online poker in California may have to wait. But here’s a look at a few previous bills that were considered despite their failure to move the needle.
When Will California Regulate Online Poker?
After Bill AB 1677 failed to gather momentum, no further legislative attempts were made. The appetite for California online poker has certainly dwindled in recent years, while the most recent legislative session in CA passed without any further bills being proposed.
The deep divide between PokerStars and the Pechanga coalitions remains more problematic than ever. This will have to be bridged if there is any chance of online poker being legalized in CA in the future, with the legislative session in 2025 not expected to see any major moves.
How We Rate Poker Sites
Online Poker Tournaments in California
You can play online poker in California in numerous formats. Competitive tournaments are among the most popular options, including the following examples.
MTTs see multiple tables in play simultaneously, while these events are renowned for offering competitive buy-ins and large payouts.
A so-called “Satellite” tournament is an event that doesn’t offer a direct cash prize or payout to participants. Instead, winners are rewarded with entry into a large or more expensive poker tournament, either online or offline at a brick-and-mortar establishment. This enables casual players to access high-stakes tournaments without committing to a huge buy-in.
With ‘Sit and Go’ tournaments, you’ll see one table in play, while events will only commence once a predetermined number of players have registered. Typically, Sit and Go tournaments are based on Texas Hold’Em or Pot-Limit Omaha iterations, while they may deploy turbo or hyper-turbo gameplay.
Knockout tournaments use common poker iterations and often deploy the same gameplay rules and regular competition. However, you’ll earn a cash prize each time you knock a player out of the tournament. This enables you to bank cash prizes without winning a tournament outright, while this format may also be referred to as a ‘progressive bounty’.
Poker Software Used at Online Poker Sites in California
| Poker Room | Poker Game Provider/s | Games Provided |
|---|---|---|
| CoinPoker | Proprietary | Texas Hold ‘em, Pot Limit Omaha, 5-Card Pot Limit Omaha |
| BetOnline | Chico Network | No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha 5, Omaha 6, Boost Cash Games |
| Bovada | PaiWangLuo Network | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, No-Limit Hold’em, NLHE,PLO |
| ACR | Winning Poker Network | No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha/Hi-Lo, 5-Card Omaha Hi/Lo, Blitz Games. |
| Ignition | PaiWangLuo Network | No Limit Texas Hold ’em, Pot Limit Omaha, PLO, |
How to Sign Up and Play Online Poker in California
To play online poker in California, you’ll first need to select a viable offshore site and sign up for an account. Here’s a step-by-step guide to registering with your chosen operator!
Visit the Homepage
First, visit the URL of your chosen site and hit the ‘Signup’ or ‘ Register’ button. When registering with CoinPoker, this is located in the top right-hand corner of the homepage.Confirm Your Email Address, Nickname, and Password
Next, provide a verifiable email and a unique ‘nickname’. You’ll also have to set your password to help secure your new account.Verify Your Email
A verification email will then be sent to the address provided. Hit the link to verify, and when successful, you’ll be transferred to a new screen.Verify Your Mobile Number
You’ll also be asked to verify your mobile number at this stage. Be sure to select the right country code before confirming. The code should arrive via SMS in less than a minute.Hit the Tables!
At this stage, your account will be verified, and you can hit the tables. Just remember to deposit funds into your account and opt into a welcome bonus as and when required.
March Promo: 100% Rakeback Deal
- Instant deposits & withdrawals
- Low and high-stakes tables are always available
- No KYC process, decentralized blockchain poker
Compare Bonuses at California’s Online Poker Rooms
As you can see from our reviews, our recommended online poker rooms in California each offer their bespoke welcome bonuses. Here’s an at-a-glance comparison of what’s being offered by the best CA sites and the relevant terms and conditions.
| Online Casino | Bonus | Bonus Code | Rollover | Min. Deposit | Crypto Accepted? | Bonus Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | N/A | 2x bonus generated in rake | $10 | ✅ | 30 days |
| ACR Poker | 100% up to $2,000 | N/A | For every 27.5 pts, $1 bonus to be released | $25 | ✅ | 60 days |
| BetOnline | 100% up to $1,000 | POKER1000 | $50 rake to release $5 in bonus cash | $50 | ✅ | 30 days |
| Bovada | 100% up to $500 | PWB500 | For every 150 pts, $5 bonus to be released | $20 | ✅ | 30 days |
| Ignition | 150% up to $1,500 | N/A | $1 bonus for every 30 Ignition Miles earned | $5 USDT | ✅ | 180 days |
| Stake.US | 250,000 GC + 25 SC on deposit 10,000 GC + 1 SC no deposit | N/A | N/A | No Minimum | ✅ | N/A |
| Black Chip | 100% up to $2,000 | N/A | $1 bonus released for every 27.5 playing points accrued | $25 | ✅ | 60 days |
| Sportsbetting.ag | 100% up to $1,000 | NEWSB | $5 Bonus for every $50 in rake accrued | $50 | ✅ | 7 days |
| Ya Poker | 100% up to $2,000 match bonus | N/A | $1 bonus released for every 27.5 playing points accrued | $25 | ✅ | 60 days |
| Phenom Poker | 200% up to $4,000 | N/A | For every $4, $1 is released for payout | $25 | ✅ | 45 days |
Best Poker Games in California
There are also several different online poker games and variations available at offshore sites. Some of these are more popular than others, of course, including the following:
- No Limit Texas Hold’em: The single most popular online poker game, this features two hole cards and five community cards (which are dealt face up in three increments). Here, players can raise any amount over the minimum up to all the chips in possession.
- Omaha: Omaha also features five community cards, and you must combine three of these with two hole cards (you’re initially dealt four of these). This game is more popular among casual players and is widely available online.
- Pot Limit Omaha: This version of Omaha features a maximum bet, which is the total sum of the chips in the pot. As a result, it’s usually inexpensive to buy into a game and wager, but it can become expensive to sustain gameplay over time.
- Omaha Hi-Lo: Also known as Omaha 8 or Omaha Eight or Better, this is a split pot game in which the high hand wins half of the pot. It’s the best ‘low’ hand that claims the other half, and once again, four hole cards are initially dealt to players.
- Seven Card Stud: This is a poker game that’s played with two down cards and one up card. These are dealt before the first round of betting, while three further cards are drawn before subsequent rounds. After the final card is dealt, there’s one final betting round before the best five-card hand claims the pot!
- Five-Card Draw: Although this game is slightly less common, five-card draw is a poker variant that’s simple and aimed at casual players. Each player is initially dealt five cards, while you can discard up to three cards (or four if your final card is an ace or ‘wild’). They can then claim new cards from the deck and continue betting until a winner is declared.
Poker Variations Available at Online Poker Sites in California
California online poker unlocks several different game and tournament formats, as outlined above. Here’s a summary of where you can find the most popular online poker variants in California and where you can find them!
| Poker Room | Texas Hold ’em | Omaha | Pot Limit Omaha | Omaha Hi-Lo | 7 Card Stud | 5 Card Draw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoinPoker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ACR | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| BetOnline | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Bovada | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Ignition | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Payment Options for California Online Poker Sites
Similarly, you can access a broad range of banking methods at our offshore poker rooms. Most of these sites offer a combination of crypto and fiat payment options, but what should you expect from each one?
Crypto Payments
We’ll start with cryptocurrencies, which dominate the payment options at offshore poker rooms. These are built upon decentralized and transparent blockchains, and they offer total anonymity and often instant payouts. While Bitcoin and Ethereum remain the most popular and widely used tokens, other options include second and third-gen alternatives like Litecoin, Ripple, Tether, USDT, Dogecoin, and Dash.
Pros
- Offers encrypted and completely anonymous transactions
- Fast and often instant payouts
- A wide and diverse selection of tokens is available
Cons
- Cryptocurrencies are volatile
- They’re not universally accepted at all poker rooms
Traditional Payments
Traditional fiat payments are among the most secure used by offshore poker rooms. They include debit and credit card payments (through providers like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express), while they benefit from SSL encryption when transferring funds online. They’re also widely accepted at online poker sites and boast significantly higher levels of trust when compared to crypto tokens.
Pros
- Process payments via secure bank transfers
- Leverage trusted payment methods like debit and credit cards
- You can access fiat payments at virtually all poker rooms
Cons
- Payout times are much slower with fiat methods
- You may incur transaction and withdrawal charges
Ewallets
E-wallets include popular banking methods such as PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Astropay. They essentially describe digital or electronic wallets that are encrypted and often use multi-factor authentication for an additional layer of security. E-wallets are also convenient and unlock relatively quick payouts, while they can also be linked directly to one or more bank accounts.
Pros
- Quick payouts, often within 24 hours
- They’re highly convenient and can connect to multiple bank accounts
- Offer additional security and multi-factor authentication
Cons
- Skrill and Neteller may not be eligible to receive welcome offers
- E-wallet transactions may also incur nominal transaction charges
How Poker Sites in California Compare to Neighboring States
California is surrounded by neighboring states that have not yet legalized online poker, but do allow offline poker at physical casino locations.
Legal Status of Poker in California's Neighboring States
Choose state
Arizona lacks commercial casinos but permits sports betting, regulated by the Arizona Department of Gaming. For players looking for online poker, you’ll be disappointed, as the law enacted in April 2021 allows sports betting at major sports venues and up to 10 racetracks or off-track locations, but no poker. However, live poker can be played legally at a number of tribal casinos within the state.
Online sports betting is also available through 20 licensed platforms collaborating with professional sports teams, venues, or these federally recognized Indian tribes.
In the late 1950s, Nevada emerged as a top global gaming hub, attracting millions annually to its casino-resorts. Half a century later, Nevada pioneered legal iGaming, later focusing on online poker by 2011. Exempt from the 1992 federal ban on sports betting, Nevada boasts the longest history of legal sports wagering in the U.S. The Nevada Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission oversee the state’s commercial casinos, with no cap on the number of licenses issued.
Oregon doesn’t have commercial casinos but facilitates sports betting via the Oregon Lottery and its partners. First introduced in 1989, a limited form of sports betting allowed Oregon a partial exemption from the 1992 federal ban. For poker players, there is no legal online poker, although it is legal to play poker at licensed tribal casinos, social poker clubs where no house edge is taken, and private poker games at home are also allowed. The next legislative session on online gambling is eagerly anticipated.
Final Thoughts
It’s perfectly safe to wager at our recommended sites for online poker in California, as each is licensed by a reputable offshore regulator. However, our pick as the best online poker room in California is CoinPoker, which offers some of the biggest pots in the marketplace.
This is especially true when playing the site’s No-limit Texas Hold ‘em and the many other poker games offered by CoinPoker. You can also access rakeback of up to 33% on cash games and competitive tournaments, while free buy events deliver impressive cash payouts. It also has its proprietary software, which contributes to a unique and varied online poker experience.
Simply put, CoinPoker has everything and more if you’re looking to play poker online.
March Promo: 100% Rakeback Deal
- Instant deposits & withdrawals
- Low and high-stakes tables are always available
- No KYC process, decentralized blockchain poker
Responsible Gambling
Regardless of your chosen poker room or preferred format, it’s always important that you wager responsibly and within your means. However, it’s easy to lose track of your activity and start to chase losses over time, which can lead to instances of problem gambling.
If you do notice the first signs of compulsive gambling, we’d refer you to our responsible gambling guide. The National Problem Gambling Helpline also offers practical assistance and is available 24/7, while more localized support options are listed below.
- National Problem Gambling Helpline
- California Council on Problem Gambling
- Office of Problem Gambling
