As the most populous state in the US, California would represent the country’s largest market for regulated online poker. Unfortunately, a complicated political landscape has so far kept legalization out of reach. Fortunately, California players can play casino-style online poker to redeem cash prizes at promotional social poker websites.
Social Online Poker in California
You can play social poker in California and redeem cash prizes and more via social online poker sites. Learn more about promotional social poker and why it’s a great alternative with our Complete Guide To Promotional Social Poker.
California Online Poker Sign-Up Bonuses for 2024
Best Poker Site for Redeeming Cash Prizes and More
Promo Code: FLUSH
Available Via Web browser on desktop, iOS, & Android devices
Available In: Most US States (excl. ID, MI, MT, WA) and Canada (excl. Quebec)
Global Poker
Full Global Poker Review
Global Poker offers a robust online poker platform that follows the social model. This is where players play using site coins, known as FREE Sweeps Coins (FREE SC), then redeem that site coin for cash prizes and more. Players can also play using Gold Coins (GC), which are simply for fun play and cannot be redeemed. However, GC can be redeemed for new avatars, so many players still enjoy playing with GC over SC.
Global Poker is currently offering 150,000 Gold Coins for $10, plus get 30 FREE Sweeps Coins. Alternatively, players can get 200,000 Gold Coins for $20 (normally $40). PLUS, 40 FREE Sweeps Coins.
Use our exclusive link to claim the Global Poker offer today.
Best Poker Site for Redeeming Cash Prizes and More
Best California Online Poker Sites
Below, we’ve reviewed the best California online poker sites currently available in the state.
Global Poker
Global Poker is currently the best (and only) option for online poker in the state of California. It offers social and sweepstakes poker-style games and cash prize redemptions. Those familiar with online poker will find a familiar platform here that is similar in style and games offered to real money online poker sites. The main difference is that virtual currencies are utilized here rather than real money. There are two types of currencies – Sweeps Coins (SC) and Gold Coins (GC). Sweeps Coins are always FREE and can be redeemed for cash prizes. They can be earned through daily login bonuses, social media contests, bonuses for Gold Coins purchases, and more. Gold Coins, on the other hand, may be purchased but may not be redeemed for cash prizes.
Overall, Glober Poker offers a clean and intuitive interface, an excellent selection of ring games, Sit’n’Go games, and tournaments, and unique options such as Jackpot Sit’n’Go games, which can result in jackpot wins of up to 4,000,000 GC or 2,000 SC.
Is California Online Poker Legal?
| Is real money online poker legal in California? | No. |
| Current number of real money online poker sites: | 0 |
| Is social and sweepstakes poker legal in California? | Yes. |
| Current number of social and sweepstakes poker sites: | 1 |
In short, real-money online poker is not legal in California. Social and sweepstakes poker, like the games offered on Global Poker, are legal within the state. Legislation to legalize online poker has been considered in California for a long time but has ultimately culminated in nothing being passed.
The final attempt was made in 2016, and no attempt has been made since then. The main reason for any online poker legislation failing to pass is disagreement with existing land-based poker options, which are plentiful in the state.
All that being said, it’s completely legal to play social and sweepstakes poker in the state, leaving the option for players to redeem cash prizes on sites like Global Poker. As for online play, this is currently the best option available in the state.
How to Play Online Poker in California
Visit Global Poker.
As the only available option, your first step is to head to Global Poker. We recommend doing so by using our exclusive link at the top of this page to ensure you are able to claim our exclusive welcome bonus. Without doing so, you may not receive the full bonus.
Get registered.
Once on Global Poker, click or tap the “Register” button. Here, you’ll be asked to create an account via email address or Facebook or Google login. No matter which method you choose, you’ll then have to confirm your email and return to the site to enter some personal details.
Familiarize yourself with the site.
Before you make a purchase, you should first browse around the site to familiarize yourself with what games are on offer and what the games themselves actually look like. This way, once you’ve made a purchase, you can hop right into a game with confidence.
Make a purchase.
Your next step is to head to the “Get Coins” page and make a purchase. At this step, keep in mind the welcome bonuses you (hopefully) claimed by clicking through our exclusive link on this page. There are two main purchase methods – online banking and cards. Online banking is offered securely by Trustly. Once you’ve chosen a package you’d like to purchase and the method you’d like to use, fill in the details and hit the “Pay” button to complete your transaction. Your coins should become available immediately.
Get playing.
Now, it’s time to play. Choose the game you’d like to play based on the type of game and the format. You can also sort games by limits and buy-ins for your convenience, so make sure you find the option that’s perfect for you. Before you click into the table, make sure that you’re playing with the currency (GC or SC) that you’d like to. You can switch between them at the top of the page. Once you’ve chosen a game and a currency, hop in and have fun. If you end up with 50 SC or more, you can redeem them for gift cards or a cash prize.
Common California Online Poker Payment Methods
As for California online poker, the only two payment methods that may be used for purchases are online banking via Trustly or credit/debit cards.
When it comes time, players may redeem their FREE SC for gift cards or cash prizes. In order to do so, players must have a minimum of 50 SC in their account (sometimes slightly lower for select gift cards).
Types of California Online Poker Bonuses
Challenges
Challenges are essentially bonus offers that require you to complete a specific task to unlock them. For example, one challenge may be to see 50 flops in ring games to unlock freerolls. In order to find these offers, simply head to the Poker Challenges section on Global Poker.
Tournaments
While there aren’t many promotions offered for social and sweepstakes poker, tournaments can be considered bonuses as they often offer massive prize pools. These may include daily, weekly, monthly, or even annually-held tournaments that offer players a mix of virtual currency prizes and sometimes even physical prizes. In almost all cases, annual tournaments hold the largest prize pools.
Online Poker Games in California
Like real money online poker, the social and sweepstakes poker available in California offers many types and formats of poker-style games. Below, we’ve listed the options that are currently available.
- Ring Games
- Hold’Em
- Omaha
- Omaha H/L
- Crazy Pineapple
- Sit’n’Go
- Hold’Em
- Omaha
- Omaha H/L
- Crazy Pineapple
- Tournaments (Regular, Guaranteed, Satellite, Rebuy, Bounty)
- Hold’Em
- Omaha
- Omaha H/L
- Crazy Pineapple
- Jackpot Sit’n’Go
- Exclusive game type that offers jackpots up to 2,000 SC or 4,000,000 GC. Offered as hyper-turbo Sit’n’Go games.
California Online Poker Tournaments
| Poker Tournament | Sweepstakes Casino | Dates | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Scrimmage | Global Poker | Weekly | SC 75,000 guaranteed. |
| Golden Scrimmage | Global Poker | Weekly | GC and physical prizes. |
| Grizzly Games | Global Poker | Jan. 29 - Feb. 18, 2024 | GC 953,500,000 and SC 2,130,000 guaranteed, plus physical prizes. |
| Rattlesnake Open | Global Poker | May 6 - May 26, 2024 | GC 965,000,000 and SC 2,220,000 guaranteed, plus physical prizes. |
| The Goat | Global Poker | Jul. 15 - Aug. 4, 2024 | GC 965,000,000 and SC 2,230,000 guaranteed, plus physical prizes. |
| Eagle Cup | Global Poker | Oct. 23 - Nov. 12, 2024 | GC 953,500,000 and SC 2,120,000 guaranteed, plus physical prizes. |
Land-Based Poker Rooms in California
As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of in-person poker options in the state of California. Below, we’ve put together a table that lists them all.
| Poker Room | Address | Number of Tables |
|---|---|---|
| 500 Club Casino | 771 W Shaw Avenue, Clovis, CA | 19 |
| Ace & Vine | 505 Lincoln Ave, Napa, CA | 12 |
| Artichoke's Joe's Casino | 659 Huntington Ave, San Bruno, CA | 6 |
| The Aviator Casino | 1225 Airport Dr, Delano, CA | 6 |
| Bankers Casino | 111 Monterey St, Salinas, CA | 6 |
| Bay 101 | 1788 N First St, San Jose, CA | 19 |
| California Grand Casino | 5988 Pacheco Blvd, Pacheco, CA | 13 |
| Capitol Casino | 411 N 16th St, Sacramento, CA | 10 |
| Casino 99 | 175 E 20th St, Chico, CA | 1 |
| Casino Chico | 968 East Ave, Chico, CA | 1 |
| Casino Club | 1885 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA | 5 |
| Casino M8trix | 1887 Matrix Blvd, San Jose, CA | 12 |
| Casino Merced | 1459 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Merced, CA | 4 |
| Central Coast Casino | 359 W Grand Ave, Grover Beach, CA | 4 |
| Club One Casino | 3950 N Cedar Ave, Fresno, CA | 31 |
| Commerce Casino | 6131 Telegraph Rd, Commerce, CA | 150 |
| Diamond Jim's Casino | 118 20th St W, Rosamond, CA | 8 |
| Garlic City Club | 8630 San Ysidro Ave, Gilroy, CA | 6 |
| Golden West Casino | 1001 S Union Ave, Bakersfield, CA | 34 |
| Hollywood Park Casino | 3883 W Century Blvd, Inglewood, CA | 51 |
| Hustler Casino | 1000 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA | 50 |
| Kings Card Club | 6111 West Ln, Stockton, CA | 2 |
| Lake Elsinore Hotel and Casino | 20930 Malaga Rd, Lake Elsinore, CA | 16 |
| Larry Flynt's Lucky Lady Casino | 1045 W Rosecrans Ave, Gardena, CA | 18 |
| Limelight Card Room | 1014 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento, CA | 3 |
| Livermore Casino | 3571 First St, Livermore, CA | 5 |
| Lucky Chances Casino | 1700 Hillside Blvd, Colma, CA | 19 |
| Napa Valley Casino | 3466 Broadway, American Canyon, CA | 4 |
| The Nineteenth Hole | 2746 W Tregallas Rd, Antioch, CA | 3 |
| Oaks Card Club | 4097 San Pablo Ave, Emeryville, CA | 35 |
| Ocean's Eleven Casino | 121 Brooks St, Oceanside, CA | 31 |
| Oceanview Casino | 709 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA | 3 |
| Old Cayucos Tavern | 130 N Ocean Ave, Cayucos, CA | 1 |
| Outlaws Card Parlour | 9850 E Front St, Atascadero, CA | 5 |
| Palace Poker Casino, LLC | 22821 Mission Blvd, Hayward, CA | 4 |
| Parkwest Bicycle Casino | 888 Bicycle Casino Dr, Bell Gardens, CA | 62 |
| Parkwest Casino Lodi | 1800 S Cherokee Ln, Lodi, CA | 1 |
| Parkwest Casino Manteca | 1355 N Main St, Manteca, CA | 6 |
| Player's Casino | 10 W Harbor Blvd 2nd Floor, Ventura, CA | 16 |
| The Saloon at Stones Gambling Hall | 6508 Antelope Rd, Citrus Heights, CA | 15 |
| Seven Mile Casino | 285 Bay Blvd, Chula Vista, CA | 9 |
| Stars Casino | 3170 Naglee Rd, Tracy, CA | 3 |
| The Gardens Casino | 11871 E Carson St, Hawaiian Gardens, CA | 184 |
| The Tavern at Stones Gambling Hall | 6508 Antelope Rd, Citrus Heights, CA | 15 |
| Towers Casino | 115 Bank St, Grass Valley, CA | 6 |
| Turlock Poker Room | 2321 W Main St, Turlock, CA | 7 |
| Wanaaha Casino | 2742 N Sierra Hwy, Bishop, CA | 3 |
| Win-River Casino | 2100 Redding Rancheria Rd, Redding, CA | 7 |
History of Online Poker in California
Unfortunately, as real-money online poker is currently illegal in the state, there’s not much history. Attempts to legalize have essentially stopped for the time being. Most recently, in February 2017, Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer introduced legislation (AB 1677) to regulate and legalize online poker in California. Unfortunately, the bill never made any real progress. Prior to that, there were a series of promising developments in 2016. Ultimately, a lack of consensus on one critical issue—suitability—derailed efforts.
In 2016, a bill sponsored by Gray (AB 2863) unanimously passed a committee vote. The significant difference was that the horse racing industry favored the bill, as it would be granted a substantial subsidy in exchange for sitting on the sidelines. At first, the bill set the bad actor bright line to December 31, 2011. This favored the PokerStars coalition (PokerStars pulled out of the US in April 2011). A tribal coalition spearheaded by the politically powerful Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians staunchly opposed this provision. Then, an amendment was added that would effectively force PokerStars out of the market for five years. Now, PokerStars and its allies took on the role of obstructionists. Without consensus among the state’s two most influential coalitions, the bill could not muster enough support to justify a vote on the Assembly floor. AB 2863 was ultimately shelved.
Four online poker bills were introduced in California in 2015: Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s AB 9, Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer’s AB 167, Assemblyman Adam Gray’s AB 431, and State Senator Isadore Hall III’s SB 267, which was a carbon copy of Gray’s AB 431. 2015 marked the first time an online poker bill passed a committee vote, as AB 431 passed the Assembly Governmental Organizations Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
As for social and sweepstakes poker, the main event in California was the launch of Global Poker in Feb. 2016. Global Poker remains, to this day, the only option for legal online poker in the state.
California Online Poker Final Thoughts
As one can probably see, there’s not much to be had in the world of real-money California online poker. That being said, social and sweepstakes poker offers just as much excitement paired with the chance to redeem cash prizes, essentially creating an oasis in what is otherwise an online poker desert. California players are lucky to have this legal option, as illegal offshore poker sites are too risky due to the potential of stolen information, stolen money, and rigged games. While the fear of missing out on a growing real-money online poker market in the United States is certainly founded, this gives an excellent option in the meantime.
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