US Poker Site with the Largest Bonuses Based on Dollar Amount. BetOnline has one of the largest poker bonuses out of all US-friendly poker sites, which is a 200% bonus up to $2,000. First, there is a good chance your credit card company will not let you deposit $1,000 to get the full $2k bonus, but most player don’t deposit that amount anyway.
Gambling has been a part of California since it drafted its state constitution and became an official state in 1850. It’s one of the only states in the country to consider poker a game of skill instead of a game of chance and allow free range gambling in commercial establishments, hotels, and other mom and pop shops around the western coastline of the country.
Voters in the state have been consistently shown to approve of state-sanctioned gambling by voting for the state lottery in 1984, and then in 2000 when they voted for a constitutional amendment to allow for brick-and-mortar casinos, as well as, moves toward California online gambling.
Is Online Gambling Legal In California Right Now?
There has never been a law written in either California State gambling laws or by the Federal US Government that directly prohibits placing real money bets on the internet to licensed offshore online gambling sites while in the state of California. Since the state of California has yet to authorize legislation to license various forms of online gambling, domestic CA-based online gambling is not permitted and thus licensed offshore gambling is the primary legal option.
Federal gambling laws which are relevant to online gambling refer to operations in the U.S.A. such as laws which impart regulatory oversight for US-based interstate sports betting operations and regulate financial institutions involved with the transactions regarding online gambling. Again, none of these Federal laws makes it illegal to place bets with legally licensed and regulated offshore gambling sites.
Legal California Online Gambling Sites
Each of the gambling sites mentioned in the table below are regulated and properly licensed in their jurisdictions located outside of the US allowing them to be legally accessed by US players. These brands have developed reputations over the course of many years to be consistent and reliable in their payout, financial transactions, and compliance certifications which are given annually after their gaming systems tested by third-party agencies for statistical randomness and fair gaming practices.
| Site Name | Bonus | Rating | Type | USA | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Casinos | |||||
| $3000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
| $5000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
| $5000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
| Online Sports Betting Sites | |||||
| $250 | Sportsbook | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Sportsbook | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Sportsbook | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Sportsbook | Visit Site | |||
| Online Poker Sites | |||||
| $500 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
Other California Gambling Pages
Can I Play Real Money Casino Games Online In California?
Yes, you can. While there are no domestic state-licensed and regulated online casino gambling options at this time, there are multiple legally sanctioned and licensed offshore online casinos accepting players from California. These sites deliver a strong selection of casino games, attractive bonus offers and a secure US friendly banking suite.
CA players can access the same types of games they would find in brick and mortar casinos, including slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, baccarat, various other table games, specialty games, and live dealer games. Learn more from our guide on California online casinos where you will find information about the legal status of online casino gambling in CA, as well as, what gaming options are legally available to you.
Can I Play Poker Online In California?
California does not provide any domestic state-licensed poker gambling platforms since the state has yet to authorize this form of online gambling at the legislative level.
However, California poker players will find various poker games available online through licensed offshore poker sites where games can including Omaha, 5-card stud, Americana, 32 card draw, HORSE, and Texas Hold’Em. Licensed offshore online poker sites offer an interactive gaming experience in which Californians can play against other live players from around the world – not just a computer.
The feature-rich interface solutions used by these poker sites allow multi-hand and multi-table options, as well as, access to around the clock poker tournament options. Visit our page covering California online poker for more information.
Can I Bet On Sports Online In California?
California has not legalized the authorization of state-licensed and regulated sports gambling operations. In fact, operating a domestic sportsbook online was previously made illegal through the Department of Justice’s Formal Opinion on the Federal Wire Act in 2011.
However, through the repeal of PASPA in 2018, the DOJ’s 2011 Opinion was modified to apply the Wire Act to only restrict interstate online sports betting. These changes allowed states to offer domestic online poker and casino gambling after 2011, and online sports gambling after 2018 when the Opinion was modified after PASPA’s removal. However, through another modification to the DOJ Opinion on the Wire Act made in 2019, all interstate gaming is considered illegal, only allowing intrastate online gaming.
Therefore, California players can access licensed offshore online sportsbooks to enjoy wagering and learn more about the legal status of sports-related gambling entertainment through our California online sports betting guide.
Can I Play Bingo Online In California?
If the online bingo hall that you intend to use is legally licensed and regulated by a legitimate governing jurisdiction outside of the US, then you are completely within your rights as a Californian to play as much real money online bingo as you like. However, since the state of California has not authorized state-licensed and based online bingo sites, domestic online bingo is considered illegal and should not be accessed.
To gain more insight into how you can legally and safely enjoy playing bingo online from reputable licensed offshore sites, check out our page dedicated to covering California online bingo sites.
Will California Legalize Online Gambling In The Near Future?
Legalizing all forms of online gambling for the purpose of state regulation is not currently high on the list of priorities for the current administration. California is one of the few states that regards poker as a game of skill and therefore allows it to exist legally in what has become known as “California casinos”, which is probably the only reason they are pushing online gambling legislation legalization – for poker gambling.
Physical poker rooms exist all over the state and have been there since the beginning of California’s statehood. There are as many as 100 of these venues scattered across the state in hotels and bingo halls. California has been met with opposition concerning the possibility of online gambling by various Indian tribes which operate gambling venues within the state.
As of yet, no agreements have been reached that satisfy all parties involved. Discussions have been taking place for several years, so nobody is holding their breath for an outcome favorable to supporters of online gambling.
Latest California Online Gambling News
California Santa Ysabela Indian Tribe Launches Real Money Bingo Site – 11/12/14
Indian Tribal Group Launches Online Poker in California – 07/16/14
Powerful California Indian Tribes to Deliver Internet Poker Bill – 05/30/14
Is California Next United States Gambling Online Industry Participant? 3/20/14
California Internet Poker Bill – Tribal Coalitions and CA Senator Pushing for Passage 10/7/13
Online Poker Sites
California Re-Buys Into Online Poker With New Gambling Bill 3/08/13
Lame-Duck Session in Congress Good or Bad for Online Poker 11/29/12
California Senator Wright Continues Online Poker Fight 9/26/12
California Internet Poker – A Hard to Kill Topic 9/23/12
California Web Poker 2012 Deadline Is August 31 8/14/12
Cantor Gaming Eyeing California Online Poker – Announces Partnership 7/30/12
It’s reasonable to ask, “Is online poker legit,” because cardplayer pay a lot of money into online poker rooms. This is a two part article, first covering online poker and second examining which sportsbooks are legit. I recommend www.IgnitionPoker.eu (previously known as Bovada) for poker and Bovada.lv for sports betting, and so does everybody else who isn’t paid off. If you only consider a legit site, one run by state or Federal licenses, then you must by physically located in Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania. For those that live there the PokerStars, Borgata, and WSOP are the most active in the 4 licensed states.
I didn’t just pull these sites from nowhere, I’ve been in the gambling business for over 10 years now. I’ve seen and dealt with all sorts of millionaire and billionaire scum bags; people that should be on the TV show “American Greed”. The only legit poker sites I suggest are mentioned on my homepage or on the ‘safe list‘. You’ll notice the list is pretty darn short, and I’ve dealt with approximately 45-60 gambling sites. PokerStars is the largest online poker site there is. Borgata is powered by Party Poker, while WSOP.com uses 888poker software. If you consider a non rigged, legit poker site to be one run from the United States, then you will have to be physically located in Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, or Pennsylvania to be able to play. But I can point to unregulated poker rooms that which gives
But Aren’t U.S. Licensed Sites Legit?
It’s debatable. In fact, in total I’ve had $147,116 taken from me by the U.S. government. The money was not stolen by offshore poker sites but THE U.S. GOVERNMENT! The process of legalized poker in the U.S. was a complete scam. They attempted to shut down every online poker site that was running for US customers, simply because they wanted zero (0) competition as they launched their own poker sites.
Let me ask you this. How is it that the Ultimate Fight Championship (UFC) – which has nothing to do with online poker – was the first to open up an online poker room in Nevada? How is it that poker sites like Bet365, Paddy Power, Everest Poker – which are traded on the London Stock Exchange and have market value in the billions of dollars – were not given priority in the immediate launch of poker in the US? Those 5-star poker sites never accepted US customers after UIGEA and adhered to all laws both domestic and international.
Yet the UFC gets the first poker license in Nevada. Not only that but the operations at “Ultimate Poker”, UFC’s poker site was light years behind any poker site based offshore that is legit. The Nevada Gaming Commission helped the local business already making them and the state money, because UFC was affiliated with Station Casinos (at the time). That is governmental corruption at its finest. Did I mention UltimatePoker went out of business, because they didn’t know how to operate a poker site?
Legit Poker Sites
Beginners might wonder what a legit poker site needs, so let’s define our terms. Below is a short list of the factor you should consider, always with explanations for why they’re important. Don’t use poker rooms if they don’t check off everything on the following checklist.
- Player Traffic: Without traffic, sites can’t have a selection of high stakes, mid stakes, and low stakes cash games, tournaments, and sit’n go events.
- Good Software: Top software means fewer issues, plus access to features like Bovada’s Zone Poker, which increases your hands per hour.
- Experience: This entails everything from software support to customer service to knowing how to monitor cheaters at the table.
- Banking Options: It often comes down to sensible payment options, including credit cards, web wallets, and crypto-currencies like Bitcoin.
- Other Games: If poker websites offer casino gaming or sports betting, it means lots of casual poker players (soft competition).
Which Poker Site is Not Rigged?
My buddies ask me all the time about this because it’s my job and one of the sites I most often recommend is Ignition Poker (previously known as Bovada). Having met the owner personally, he is an honest person and puts himself in the public spotlight when others hide under rocks. His previous ownership, now owned by Morris Mohawk is probably worth about 1-2 billion USD. In a closed meeting, he discussed how if anything ever went bad, he would personally make sure all his players and employees got paid from his own checkbook. On top of that the site has the most player traffic going by PokerScout and has an Alexa rank of 9,730. For a comparison, HBO has about a 4,600 Alexa rank which means millions of people use it. Most sites are in the million number ranks – which is terrible.
If you are in Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Delaware, then the answer might be different in 3 or 4 years from now as the WSOP grows its player base. The WSOP is now forced to be legitimate and all licensed poker sites in the U.S. look like the saviors of safe poker sites. In truth, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was an unnecessary federal law which shut down poker sites, drove out legit online cardrooms, and dismantled a perfectly well run market. If lawmakers had not stepped in we would still be playing at Party Poker and making money would be just as easy as it was all those years ago. But lawmakers must justify their jobs and business owners must deal with the fallout the best they can.
Be Careful of Scamming Affiliates
I could go on for hours about how people to this day are crummy affiliates who are touting poker sites to play. They are getting large up-front chunks of cash in the $100,000+ range to mention their poker rooms because they rank high for popular terms in Google and Yahoo by using spammy search engine optimization techniques over and over again to maintain rankings and visitors. I have email chains proving certain companies insolvency and forthcoming bankruptcy, yet they continue to operate. The most recent mass scale offenders were Lock Poker. This was one of the longest running scams, but U.S. law enforcement agencies never took action. Eventually, journalist John Mehaffey brought Lock Poker’s abuses to light. Players left the platform and the site shut down in 2015.
Thus, poker review sites serve a useful purpose. With honest reporting and the facts on their side, card players can make informed decisions about online poker rooms. US Poker Sites continues to monitor legit sites here, so players have the info they need. We are pretty straight forward, so we hope this site helps.
For what it’s worth, I do not believe any poker sites are ‘rigged’m but cheating and collusion goes on regularly and will never stop. Legit poker sites takes steps to eliminate collusion, but cheaters find new and inventive ways to collude. It’s a cat-and-mouse game that will never end entirely. It’s better just to play for small amounts of money – however you define “small amounts” – you don’t mind losing one way or the other.
Is Ignition Poker Legit?
So if legitimate poker sites try to make games safer, then you might ask which card rooms you should trust. Ignition Poker is the top option for American online poker players, so I’ll use it as an example. Ignition Casino launched in the spring of 2016. A few months later, Ignition bought Bovada Poker’s player pool, instantly establishing itself as the second largest online gambling site which accepted US poker players. Since then, Ignition Poker vaulted to the number one spot.
Ignition Poker therefore has all of the elements of a world class online poker site. It’s linked to an online casino, so many soft players or fish join its cash games and tournament events. The gaming platform uses Bovada proprietary software, so Ignition uses trusted and well-tested technology. It has the most player traffic of any poker site which accepts US players.
The Bovada-powered poker room includes several features that make it popular with players. Here’s a few of those features:
- Quick Seat: Choose a poker game like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or Omaha Hi/Lo and the stakes and Quick Seat automatically puts you at a table.
- Anonymous Tables: Players can’t use Heads-Up Displays (HUDs) to track your hand history. Instead, you use your skills and perceptions to get a read on opponents the old-fashioned way.
- Zone Poker: A fast-fold feature where you’re assigned to a new table once you fold a hand. Players should fold most hands, so you don’t wait on bets and showdowns most of the day.
- In-Software Casino Games: If you prefer to sit through hands, you can play In-Software Casino Games like blackjack, roulette, video poker, or 3D slots.
- Mobile Poker: Play poker anytime, anywhere with the mobile poker apps for Android and iOS. Jackpot Sit-and-Go games cater to mobile poker players with possible 1000x winnings while you’re on the go.
- Softer Opponents: Ignition Poker has a huge community of recreational players. Unlike some sites, it allows expert poker players to play against casual players, so skilled players have high odds of facing lesser opponents.
Deft readers might notice that Ignition Poker is newer, so they might be thinking the site doesn’t meet the criterion of experience. Ignition’s owner has been in the online poker business since the 1990s, so the poker room has more experience than the other online poker rooms which accept US players from any state.
Free Poker Sites
Poker players can find all the information they need with free poker sites. To learn more about online poker, watch live streamed poker games on Twitch and YouTube. Both platforms have a seemingly endless amount of channels which provide all-day coverage of online and live poker events. One of the best is FuryTV.
Online Poker Sites For Money
FuryTV, a YouTube channel with the best compilations, highlights, and hands from poker events all around the world. Fury ETC Ltd is affiliated with the official Twitter page of partypoker, @partypoker, and the official home of partypoker live events, Part@partypokerlive. Watching a YouTube feed like FuryTV improves your knowledge and skills at poker.
Best Online Poker Sites
Keep reading USPokerSites for the latest advice and trends. Like our recommendations on Ignition Poker or FuryTV, we give honest opinions and detailed reasons to support those attitudes. When the latest trends and updates happen, we reasses the landscape and give our readers the best information available. Our goal is to provide reliable poker advice on the latest topics. You might not always agree with us, but like the opinions above on corrupt politicians and scamming affiliates, you’ll walk away with new ideas and information to consider. Keep studying online poker, and keep reading about the poker sites we recommend.