As it stands, BetOnline operates as one of the best online poker platforms, in my humble opinion. Yes, it has stiff competition from other sites, such as Bovada, especially where the US is concerned. But you can consider BetOnline to offer certain things that Bovada doesn’t, such as a much more well-rounded mobile poker experience. It is considered one of the best online sites because of all the fish swimming around. Ignition might be one of the best online poker sites for US players, but Bovada can sure give it a run for its money. Bovada has an advantage because it has been around since 2004. Therefore, it has the most US players of all poker online sites.
In the competitive world of professional poker, the player with the most experience often takes home the most money, and California online poker is no exception. California is home to 5 of the top 20 earners in professional poker currently and players like these have often accredited most of their experience to playing online poker on licensed offshore sites while from their home state of California.
The idea is to see as many hands as you can while you’re playing. Some online poker players in California have been known to see upwards of 10,000 hands in a single day, more than a typical casino player would see in a lifetime. This is something that can only be achieved with the features available through online poker sites rather than face to face games at live poker rooms.
This page will provide you with information about the state’s available online poker games, bonuses, banking options, software capabilities, and even a bit of a historical perspective on poker gambling in California.
Are Online Poker Sites Legal In California?
There are only a few regions in the US that have legalized state-regulated and licensed online poker gambling operations, and CA is not yet one of them. California is considering the legalization of domestic online poker operations but the bill being considered has not yet been approved to become law. The DOJ’s Legal Opinion issued in 2011 set the stage to allow each individual US state to pass legislation legalizing online casino and/or poker gambling, however, few US states have taken advantage of this option.
Currently, there are no California online gambling laws or any US federal online gambling laws which make it a crime for California residents to play poker online at legitimately licensed and regulated offshore online poker destinations. Licensed offshore poker rooms are the primary legal option for CA players looking to enjoy legal online poker gambling for real money and until California reaches a legislative consensus regarding state-regulated online poker platforms, licensed offshore poker remains a stable and legal alternative.
CA laws do, however, punish online poker operators based in the Golden State who service CA players without proper licensing or authorization by the state. Any domestic CA-based online poker sites are illegal until the state announces passed legislation and begins issuing licenses.
Legally Licensed Online Poker Sites Accepting California Players
Following brands are the top online poker providers in the industry and have been for many years. Our team of analysts has meticulously reviewed each aspect of these websites to ensure that they are operating in a legal offshore jurisdiction that also provides them with the proper regulatory oversight and licensing.
These brands have all developed great reputations within the online gambling industry and have demonstrated a dedication to providing a legitimate, secure, and high-quality destination for engaging in premium online poker entertainment.
| Site Name | Bonus | Rating | Type | USA | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site |
Other California Gambling Pages
What Games Can I Play At Interactive Poker Sites?
There are tournaments and poker games of all shapes and sizes available online which readily come to mind. CA players can find tournaments for playing Texas Hold’Em, 3, 5, and 7 Card Stud, 32 Card Draw, Americana, and of course, Omaha and Hi/Lo, as well as, many more poker games. There are also several variations of these poker games available at each of our recommended destinations as general games or tournaments.
Players may also find specialty poker games such as HORSE or Caribbean Stud, among others. The poker sites listed in this guide all utilize proprietary software solutions to power their gameplay, software, and virtual poker room. Each brand offers a feature-rich interface that empowers players by supporting multi-hand, multi-table, speed play options, and more.
Can I Play For Free At Online Poker Sites?
Available from most providers, Free Play functions are an extremely useful tool for first-time online users. Free Play essentially provides a risk-free environment to let players get to know the software interface by letting them play with limitless fake money. This is a great way for first-time online poker players to become acclimated to the online environment, learn a new game, or test out their strategy online.
Poker playing is about confidence, therefore, Free Play allows new online players to build up their confidence to become comfortable using and navigating the online interface. Newbies can learn new poker games or hone their skills on their favorite game without taking any financial risk. Seasoned casino vets can also use Free Play to get used to online multi-hand and table features if they are looking to see more hands per hour or learn where to click and practice online betting strategies.
CA players can also choose to play in the Freeroll tournaments which are another opportunity for players to play for free. In these types of tournaments, there is no entrance fee and therein lies the opportunity to win real cash prizes without any financial risk on the player’s behalf.
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Are There Online Poker Bonuses Available?
Top tier poker websites will offer first-time players a welcome bonus which usually takes the form of more money in the players account to gamble with through a “Match Bonus”. The site will specify matching a certain percentage of a player’s first deposit, or deposits if they allow redemption more than once, and do so it just for the player signing up and depositing funds into their account. There are also reload bonuses, referral bonuses, and special promotions which are often tied to tournaments.
Keep in mind that poker deposit match bonuses are handled differently from online casino bonuses as they are awarded incrementally in a ‘the more you play, the more you get’ scenario. Bonuses offered normally have attached conditions which must be met before withdrawing, so read each bonuses conditions thoroughly before redeeming.
Can I Play Poker From My Mobile Phone?
There are mobile poker gambling options available for iPhone, Android, Windows, and more from all of our recommended brands. Relying on the most popular mobile brands and networks, most poker apps have switched from downloadable to browser-based or better known as responsive design. This change in mobile optimization to responsive design has effectively changed the way mobile games are offered by allowing players to simply enter the brand’s URL into their mobile browser and play at will.
What Are The Banking Options For Online Poker?
The wallet systems that are associated with these online poker systems have multiple methods of deposit and withdrawal. However, the deposit and withdrawal options available do vary somewhat between brands. Players can always find accepted forms of digital decentralized currencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Dash as they seem to be the most successful while traveling seamlessly and processing quickly throughout the online gambling world.
Players may also likely to find options for the major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, and sometimes American Express and Discover. However, if these cards are tied to a traditional banking institution players may see their attempted deposits canceled by their bank. This is due to the UIGEA, a federal banking regulation preventing banks from processing gambling transactions.
Other more successful payment methods include several forms of wire or money transfer from bank-to-bank and person-to-person. Sometimes fees and processing times are associated with the type of deposit or withdrawal method used, so be sure to review these details so that you are aware of which methods are the most or least beneficial to you.
California Views on Poker Gambling from The Beginning
California has a long history with poker reaching back into the late 1800’s. When the California constitution was drafted in 1879, draw poker was conveniently left out of its gambling restrictions which placed a prohibition on basically all other forms of gambling. It became a common occurrence for card players from all over the country to travel to California looking for big poker games and big thrills.
Best Online Poker Sites For California Players
In the late 30’s, people could find numerous legally regulated cardrooms in Long Beach, L.A., Hawthorne, El Monte, and a number of unincorporated areas in L.A. County. Today, card rooms are still all over the state of California, these are player banked and exist within the current laws as social gambling. In these games, the house simply takes a small fee from each hand and the players gamble against each other instead of the house.