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Best Online Poker Sites for California Players (2026): What’s Legal
California's online poker industry ranks among the biggest in the US. Major poker tournament series stop at venues like Thunder Valley Casino and Commerce Casino. The World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker Circuit often pick these spots. However, the online landscape is a different story. Regarding real-money online poker, it is still illegal in California under current state law. The good news: some online poker options remain accessible. Below, we outline the online poker sites still available to players in California
Top online poker sites in California for 2026
You may already know that there are not many poker sites available in California. So choosing the right one isn't a challenge. Let's take a look at some of the great options for playing poker in CA.
| Category | Poker site | Bonus |
Games
|
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Best CA online poker site | BetOnline Poker | 100% up to $1,000 | NLH, PLO, PLO5, PLO6, PLO Hi/Low, Boost Poker |
| ✅ Biggest tournaments | ACR Poker | 100% up to $2,000 | NLH, PLO, PLO5, PLO Hi/Low, AoF, Blitz Poker, 7 Card Stud |
| ✅ Anonymous poker | Ignition Poker | up to $3,000 | NLH, FLH, PLO, PLO Hi/Low, Zone Poker |
| ✅ Crypto & Bitcoin | CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | NLH, PLO, PLO5 |
| ✅ New poker site | Phenom Poker | 150% up to $3,000 | NLH, PLO, Super Circus Mix, Stud. |
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ACR Poker
ACR Poker has been operating in California for more than a decade. Its key strengths include large tournament schedules, generous rakeback rewards, and a broad range of game formats.
Alongside the popular six-max NLH tables with stakes reaching $200/$400, the ACR Poker lobby also features full-ring games, 4-max All-In or Fold tables, cash games across multiple Omaha variants, and fast-paced Blitz tables.
This is the only poker room where US players can compete for a $1 million first prize in a tournament, the flagship Venom $8M GTD. In addition, the site runs hundreds of tournaments each week, offering more than $9 million in total guaranteed prize pools.
ACR Poker rewards its players with proven bonus offerings, including a welcome package of up to $2,000, weekly rake races, and a loyalty program featuring flat rakeback. Players can choose a fixed rakeback of 27% or a progressive rakeback of up to 65%.
BetOnline Poker
BetOnline is a well-established gaming platform with a modern poker app and extensive experience serving the US market. The site offers a full online casino and sportsbook, ensuring that weak opponents are present at the poker tables at all limits.
The poker room features cash games in Texas Hold’em and Omaha with stakes ranging from $0.05/$0.10 up to $5/$10. BetOnline supports four Omaha variants: standard four-card, Hi-Lo, PLO5, and PLO6. Its tournament lineup includes unique formats such as Bomb Pot Sit & Go, Spin & Go in Windfall, and Mystery Bounty MTT with a shared progressive jackpot.
A key feature of BetOnline’s bonus system is that prize races and jackpots are divided by stake level, allowing players of all bankroll sizes to compete for extra rewards. Standard promotions include a 100% first-deposit bonus of up to $1,000 and a loyalty program offering rakeback starting at 10%.
Ignition Poker
Ignition Poker leads the California online poker market in terms of game volume and stands out for its distinctive approach to the poker ecosystem. Across all games, players’ nicknames are hidden, and seating is randomized, preventing players from selecting specific tables. This system is designed to reduce predatory behavior by regulars and create a fairer environment for newcomers.
During evening hours, the poker room regularly attracts several thousand active players. Action extends beyond NLH tables, including classic and fast-paced Zone Poker, but also in Omaha formats, such as Hi-Lo, as well as limit games.
Tournament players can choose from classic turbo Sit & Go, Spin & Go with Jackpot, with prize pools reaching up to $120,000, and dozens of daily MTTs.
Among the available bonuses, the most appealing for regular players is the 150% first-deposit bonus of up to $1,500 with 50% rakeback. But all other promotions are targeted at recreational players, including bad beat and royal flush bonuses, freerolls, and tournament tickets that can be redeemed with loyalty points.
Our criteria for ranking the best CA poker sites
Navigating the many poker sites in the United States California can be overwhelming with so many options competing for your attention. Our team has studied the market and local preferences to bring you the recommended sites listed above. We have used strict criteria in our evaluations.
- Reliability. Our reviews verify that the site obtains its license and RNG certificate from a reputable authority, particularly when playing for real money online. Reputation and history are also important to us. Most of the poker sites on our list have been around for more than 15 years.
- Game variety. Not all poker fans enjoy classic Texas Hold'em or Omaha. Some of you prefer the excitement of a 5-6 Card PLO. Others might like the strategy in Seven-Card Stud or the quick action of Spin&Go. A good poker site should cater to the needs of everyone. Pro players and beginners both need options to keep the experience fun.
- Welcome bonuses and promotions. Bonus offers and promotions provided by poker sites serve as valuable incentives and increase your bankroll. Players who play online poker regularly can also benefit from ongoing promotions.
- Customer support. Great support is crucial for a smooth gaming experience. We choose poker websites with 24/7 support via multiple channels. Phone, email, and live chat are common methods.
- Payment options. Imagine winning a big pot and facing payment issues — frustrating, right? We suggest poker sites with secure, convenient, and fast deposit and withdrawal options: a mix of trusted e-wallets and cryptocurrency.
- Mobile experience. Convenience matters, especially for today's mobile-first poker players. A complicated interface makes playing poker difficult. We select online poker sites with user-friendly native mobile apps and easy navigation.
California online poker overview
In the early 2000s, online poker was widely available in California. However, on 15 April 2011, the US Department of Justice brought the poker festivities to a halt. They swooped in and seized the domains of major online poker sites such as PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker. These sites were accused of violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006.
As of 2026, California still does not have any licensed online poker sites. From a legal standpoint, real-money online poker remains prohibited in the state, meaning California residents can't legally play on regulated platforms.
In addition, sweepstakes-based online poker apps are banned as of January 1, 2026, according to the law AB 831. As a result, some players in California turn to offshore poker rooms that operate outside the state’s jurisdiction and are not regulated by California law.
While there aren't many offshore online poker sites available in California, the ones that are there are absolutely huge and well-known brands with millions of players worldwide. For example: ACR Poker, BetOnline and Ignition Casino. These sites allow you to play with people from all over the world, not just Californians. They also offer plenty of bonuses and promotions to boost your bankroll.
The legal background of online poker in California State
| Type of gambling | Is eligible? |
|---|---|
| Regulated online poker | ❌ Not permitted |
| Offshore online poker sites | ⚠️ Available (unregulated) |
| Sweepstakes poker | ❌ Prohibited |
| Social poker (play money only) | ✅ Legal |
| Land-based poker rooms | ✅ Legal |
California is known for its liberal stance, which extends to its gambling industry. Numerous land-based casinos operate statewide, generating significant revenue for the local economy.
California maintains particularly strict legislation on online poker. Under Penal Code Section 337j(e)(1), operators are prohibited from offering real money online poker within the state. Numerous attempts to legalize and regulate online poker have been made in recent years, but none have succeeded. Furthermore, Assembly Bill 831, signed into law in October 2025 and taking effect on January 1, 2026, explicitly bans sweepstakes-based online gambling in California.
It's important to remember that online poker is illegal in California. This is because it violates the state's gaming laws. But here's the good news: despite this, no one has ever been prosecuted in California for playing real money poker on offshore platforms.
Sweepstakes poker in California
California’s sweepstakes poker landscape changed dramatically on January 1, 2026, with the enactment of Assembly Bill 831. Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 11, 2025, and passed unanimously by the state legislature, the bill banned all online platforms operating under dual-currency sweepstakes models.
As a result, sweepstakes poker is no longer considered a valid online poker format for players in the Golden State.
By late December 2025, major sweepstakes poker sites, including Global Poker, Clubs Poker, and Stake US, ceased operations for players in California. The only exception was ClubWPT Gold, which transitioned to a modified "California Game Days" model. Under this system, California players may withdraw chips only on nine pre-scheduled days each month. However, the legal status of this model remains uncertain and is not equivalent to legal online poker.
Following the sweepstakes poker ban, some players may turn to alternative options, including offshore poker rooms that have traditionally attracted California players, such as ACR Poker, BetOnline, and Ignition Poker. However, these platforms operate outside state regulation and do not provide the player protections guaranteed under California law. Thus, free social poker games with no cash prizes remain the only fully legal form of online poker in California.
Will California regulate online poker?
After years of debate over online poker regulation, California’s legislative focus has largely shifted toward legalizing sports betting. As a result, the prospects for launching legal real-money online poker anytime soon appear unlikely.
Despite California’s population far exceeding that of states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where online poker is already legal. The lack of consensus on sports betting continues to hinder any progress.
The future of online poker in the Golden State remains uncertain. Deep divisions among tribal casinos, card rooms, and political stakeholders continue to pose major obstacles, and despite occasional renewed discussions, online poker remains illegal in California as of 2026.
Are poker winnings taxed?
There is no state tax on gambling in California. Poker winnings from casinos or card rooms are considered regular income. The good news is that it's taxed based on California income tax brackets.
Online poker remains unregulated in California, so many people have questions about whether or not they should report their online winnings for tax purposes. We recommend that you consult an accountant if you earn money online.
Step-by-step guide to playing online poker in California
Registering at a top poker site in CA is simple. If you don't know how to play online poker, we have a guide. Let's go through it.
- Register an account with an online poker site. The first thing you need to do is to sign up at your favorite poker site. Fill out the registration form and you're ready to go!
- Make a deposit. Go to the cashier, select your real money deposit option, and complete the transaction. Make sure you select the 1st deposit welcome bonus.
- Choose a table and jump in! We suggest starting with micro-stakes until you're ready to take on higher stakes. It's a great way to build your confidence. And stick to your bankroll management.
Deposit and withdrawal methods
While online poker isn't currently legal in California, there's still a way to get in on the action and enjoy the thrill of winning! Many offshore poker sites accept cryptocurrencies, making deposits and withdrawals quick and easy.
All of the most popular digital coins are usually available at the cashier:
- BTC
- ETH
- USDT
- USDC
- LTC
- DOGE and others
When it comes to e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill, Neteller and Payz, you will find them in the cashier at poker sites. The only catch is that they're not available for deposits in unregulated online gambling territories, like California.
Famous poker players from California
- Brian Rast — $29M+
- David Rheem — $18,9M+
- Justin Cuong Van Tran — $ 13,7M+
- Jamie Gold — $12,7M+
- David Pham — $11,6M+
Four players from California have been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. The most recent is Brian Rast, who was inducted in 2023. He is the only player to earn more than $1 million in live tournaments for seven consecutive years, and three of his six WSOP bracelets he won in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship.
Interestingly, Brian’s best-cash total is surpassed by Jimmy Gold, who earned nearly all of his career winnings in one tournament. Jimmy Gold’s biggest payout was $12 million for first place in the WSOP Main Event in 2006.
California is also home to several longtime veterans of the American poker scene:
- Johnny Chan. Two-time WSOP Main Event champion in a row: in 1987 and 1988. In 1989, he lost to Phil Hellmuth in a heads-up. He appeared in the movie "Rounders".
- Chris Ferguson. The 2000 WSOP Main Event champion and winner of six bracelets, he's known for his mathematical approach, laid-back style, and "Jesus" image for long hair and a beard.
- Barry Greenstein. Three WSOP bracelets and extensive experience in high-stakes cash games.Nicknamed the "Robin Hood of Poker" for frequently donating tournament winnings to charity. Author of the cult book "Ace on the River".
Conclusion
California is far from an ideal environment for online poker players, particularly those seeking real-money games. As of 2026, the state does not offer regulated online poker, leaving offshore poker rooms as the primary option.
While offshore platforms provide a broad selection of games and formats, their standards for security, transparency, and customer service can vary significantly from platform to platform.
For this reason, players should carefully evaluate factors such as a site’s reputation, payment security, and overall user experience before choosing where to play. WorldPokerDeals offers informational overviews to help players navigate these options and make more informed decisions.
Responsible Gambling
We recommend playing in moderation and training yourself to identify the signs of a potential gambling addiction. These include things like feeling the need to gamble more and more, restlessness when not playing, and trying to recover lost money at the tables. If you notice any of these signs, please don't hesitate to reach out and get help here:
- California Council on Problem Gambling
- Gamblers Anonymous
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER
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