California online casinos are great alternatives to CA tribal casinos when you feel like playing on your phone or computer. The best sites offer many games, big bonuses, and plenty of payment options.
Now here’s the question: what are the best online casinos in California? Start with our recommendations below – most of which have impressive bonuses.
Wild Casino |
Welcome Bonus Up To $5,000 + 125 Spins |
Welcome Bonus Up To $5,000 + 125 Spins
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Wild Casino
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Betwhale Casino |
250% Casino Bonus for Slots Cards & Table Games |
250% Casino Bonus for Slots Cards & Table Games
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Betwhale Casino
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Lucky Creek |
200% Matched Deposit Up To $7,500 + 30 Free Spins |
200% Matched Deposit Up To $7,500 + 30 Free Spins
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Lucky Creek
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Bovada |
Get Up To $3,000 In Bonuses |
Get Up To $3,000 In Bonuses
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Raging Bull |
250% Bonus + 50 Free Spins Code: SMART250 |
250% Bonus + 50 Free Spins Code: SMART250
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Raging Bull
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Black Lotus |
200% Matched Deposit Up To $7,000 + 30 Free Spins |
200% Matched Deposit Up To $7,000 + 30 Free Spins
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Black Lotus
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CoinPoker Casino |
150% deposit bonus up to $2,000 |
150% deposit bonus up to $2,000
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CoinPoker Casino
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Lucky Red Casino |
400% Up To $4,000 + $75 Free Chip When Using Crypto |
400% Up To $4,000 + $75 Free Chip When Using Crypto
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Ignition Casino |
Welcome Bonus Package Up To $3,000 |
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Ignition Casino
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BetOnline |
100% Welcome Bonus Up To $3,000 Code: BETCASINO |
100% Welcome Bonus Up To $3,000 Code: BETCASINO
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BetOnline
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TG.Casino |
200% Instant Bonus Up To 10ETH |
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- Show Full Guide
Our Top 5 California Online Casinos Reviewed
You can’t go wrong with the California online casinos listed above. But we want to give you a closer look at our five favorite CA casinos, including their benefits and drawbacks.
1. Wild Casino – The Best California Online Casino Overall
🚀 Founded: 2017
📃 License: Panama Gaming Control Board
💵 Deposit methods: Bank wire, credit card, crypto, money order, P2P
⏱ Deposit speed: Instant with credit card; 0-15 minutes with crypto
💵 Withdrawal methods: Bank wire, check, crypto, money order, P2P
⏱ Withdrawal speed: 0-24 hours (crypto)
📧 Email: ([email protected])
💬 24/7 Live Chat
Key Features
- RTP: The significant Wild Casino game selection makes finding high-paying games relatively easy. This casino has blackjack RTP up to 99.7% (single deck) and many slots that beat the 96% RTP industry average.
- Games Coverage: Wild Casino boasts one of the largest game selections in California with over 1,000 games. The slots section is a must-stop with 970+ titles to date. We love the live dealer area, where unique offerings like Football Grid, Lucky 5, and T-Basket are available.
- Features: Tournaments are the key feature here, with many daily freeroll and real money tourneys available to Californians. Our complaint about the features, though, is the lack of free game demos.
- Promotions: This gaming site starts you off with a 250% bonus up to $1,000 – part of a larger $5k welcome package. As an existing player, you can expect reload bonuses, prize giveaways, and 10% cashback. We only wish that VIP rewards were available.
- Banking: Wild Casino provides a large mixture of crypto and traditional banking options, including credit/debit cards, cryptocurrencies, bank wires, money orders, and P2P transfers. It also processes most withdrawals within 24 hours and allows up to $100,000 crypto cashouts.
- Site Design: The website keeps things entertaining without going overboard since the jungle theme is done lightly. Navigation for the games, promotions, and banking sections is excellent. Our lone suggestion would be including a drop-down menu for software providers in the games section.
Pros
- 250% up to $1k sign-up bonus
- Over 1,000 games
- Withdraw up to $100k
- Impressive tournament lineup
- Great variety of banking methods
Cons
- Game demos unavailable
- No VIP program
Our Verdict
Wild is the best online casino in California from an all-around perspective. It excels at offering frequent promotions, quick payouts, and many tournaments. We’re also impressed with the 1,000+ games and banking variety.
The only aspects missing from a perfect experience include game demos and a loyalty program. We can forgive the absent VIP program, though, considering that more than enough promos are available.
- Free spins bonuses and action-packed slot tournaments with $5,000 payouts
- Over 600+ slots from Playtech, Nucleus, Rival and more
- Accepts both credit cards and over 15 cryptocurrencies
2. Bovada – Best Fast Payout Casino for Jackpots
🚀 Founded: 2011
📃 License: Curaçao Gaming Control Board
💵 Deposit methods: Credit card, crypto
⏱ Deposit speed: Instant (credit card); 0-15 minutes (crypto)
💵 Withdrawal methods: Bank wire, check, crypto, voucher
⏱ Withdrawal speed: 0-24 hours (voucher); 24-48 hours (crypto)
📧 Email: (contact form)
💬 Live Chat
Key Features
- RTP: This casino has plenty of high-paying slots, such as Gold Rush Gus (98.48% RTP) and 8 Lucky Charms (97.4%). Some of the Bovada progressive slots can offer well over 100% RTP when their jackpots are large enough. We highly suspect this is true with Shopping Spree and its multimillion-dollar jackpot.
- Games Coverage: Bovada is the best online casino in California for chasing jackpots. It has exclusive RealTime Gaming prizes that can reach millions of dollars, including Shopping Spree (currently $2.7m) and Jackpot Piñatas ($1.4m). This casino provides 600 games overall, which span slots, blackjack, roulette, live dealer, and specialty categories.
- Features: Bovada connects some games to a Hot Drop network with three progressive jackpots. The Epic Jackpot is currently the largest, featuring over a $46k prize. Bovada Poker is also notable with $2 million in weekly guaranteed tournaments and a $200k Sunday event.
- Promotions: The Bovada Casino welcome bonus is significant, offering up to $3,750 over your first three deposits. Unfortunately, not much else is available beyond occasional free spins and a rewards program. Poker players will find a decent sign-up bonus worth 100% up to $500.
- Banking: You should stay away from credit card deposits here due to fees reaching 15.9%. We suggest depositing with crypto, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, or USDT. Payments are available through bank wire, check, crypto, and voucher.
- Site Design: This casino offers a clutter-free website with smooth navigation. We quickly moved from one section to the next and appreciated the helpful filters in the games section.
Pros
- Exclusive jackpots worth over $2m
- Hot Drop Jackpots network
- Clean design & navigation
- Up to $180k withdrawals
- Large poker tournaments
Cons
- High fees on credit card deposits
- Limited casino promotions
Our Verdict
RealTime Gaming offers exclusive 7-figure jackpots for Bovada, meaning you can’t play for these prizes at other California online casinos. Bovada’s jackpot advantage continues with the Hot Drop network and several additional games with 6-figure prizes. Other benefits include up to $180,000 withdrawals (Litecoin), user-friendly navigation, and big online poker tournaments.
This gaming site could offer more casino-related promos and reduce credit card changes. But we’re willing to take these drawbacks when considering the overall package.
- Over 300 casino games, personalized picks, and $100K Hot Drop Jackpots
- Live casino games from both ViG and Fresh Deck
- Low wagering requirements on bonuses
3. BetWhale Casino – Good CA Online Casino for Live Games
🚀 Founded: 2023
📃 License: Gaming Control Anjouan
💵 Deposit methods: Credit card, crypto, Flexepin, Neosurf, PayPal (non-US players)
⏱ Deposit speed: Instant (credit card), 0-15 minutes (crypto)
💵 Withdrawal methods: Bank wire, credit card (non-US players), crypto
⏱ Withdrawal speed: 24-72 hours (crypto)
📧 Email: [email protected]
💬 24/7 live chat
☎️Phone: 1-855-470-0558
Key Features
- RTP: A Betsoft single-deck blackjack game here offers 99.55% RTP. You can also find Gold Rush Gus and its 98.48% payback at BetWhale.
- Games Coverage: This casino has over 400 games from software providers like Betsoft, Dicelab, Fresh Deck Studios, and Woohoo Games. The BetWhale live casino impresses us with its blend of classic and innovative games. Examples of the latter include Dice Duel, Speedy 7, T-Kick, and War of Bets.
- Features: BetWhale is fairly basic on casino features, although it has helpful game lobby filters. You can find plenty to wager on at the BetWhale Sportsbook.
- Promotions: The BetWhale sign-up bonus is impressive at 125% up to $1,250. The only problem: it’s for sports betting. We noticed that free spins and a reload casino bonus are available after logging in.
- Banking: You can deposit here using cryptocurrencies or credit/debit cards. Withdrawals are available via bank wire, Bitcoin, and USDT. We see PayPal listed among the cashout methods, although it’s only for international players.
- Site Design: We got logged out a few times while being inactive for just a few minutes. Other than this, we like the user experience at BetWhale. The website has a simple interface with plenty of filters in the casino games section.
Pros
- Innovative live dealer games
- Dozens of jackpots
- Large selection of table games
- User-friendly website
- Solid lineup of specialty games
Cons
- Few casino promotions
- $150 minimum withdrawal
- Sign-up bonus for sports betting
Our Verdict
BetWhale has an adequate – not amazing – selection of 400+ games. While it may not offer the most online slots in California, it does shine in the live dealer and specialty categories. Both sections offer unique games that we don’t see at every other CA online casino.
This gaming site has a few drawbacks, including a sports-only welcome bonus, limited casino promos, and $150 minimum withdrawals. We still highly recommend this operator, though, especially when you’re looking for different games.
- Specialty parlor games, million-dollar slots, and immersive live game shows
- Updates with new slots every week
- No fees on most withdrawal methods
4. Black Lotus Casino – Top California Online Casino for Promotions
🚀 Founded: 2012
📃 License: Curaçao Gaming Control Board
💵 Deposit methods: Bitcoin, credit card
⏱ Deposit speed: Instant (credit card); 0-15 minutes (crypto)
💵 Withdrawal methods: Bank wire, Bitcoin
⏱ Withdrawal speed: 3-4 days (Bitcoin); 5-7 days (bank wire)
📧 Email: [email protected]
💬 24/7 live chat
☎️Phone: 1-866-403-6954
Key Features
- RTP: A large portion of slots here are from Saucify, which tend to pay under 96%. Many Betsoft slots (e.g., Good Girl, Bad Girl, 97.79% RTP) are better picks regarding payout percentages.
- Games Coverage: The Black Lotus game selection is mediocre, offering 300+ games from a combination of Betsoft, Rival, and Saucify. We like how this casino provides a little something of everything, including slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, and keno. It also has live dealer games, although the Black Lotus live casino could use more variety.
- Features: This casino offers a special VIP program for crypto depositors, which you can learn about by contacting support. It also has leaderboard races and a game search engine.
- Promotions: Black Lotus does promotions as well as any online casino in California. It begins with a 200% up to $7,000 welcome bonus and continues with lots of other promos. Our one complaint is the 60x wagering requirements on the welcome offer.
- Banking: You can deposit with Visa, Mastercard, and Bitcoin. We wouldn’t mind seeing a few more cryptocurrencies available, but this variety should work for most. Cashouts are available via bank wire and Bitcoin.
- Site Design: We think this website has below-average navigation, with the one problem being too many sections. For example, there’s no need for a “Win a Car” link among the main categories like games and promos. We also experienced slight lag when moving between pages.
Pros
- Up to $7k welcome bonus
- Frequent promotions
- Covers most categories well
- Crypto VIP program
- Quick sign-up process
Cons
- 60x bonus rollover
- Website lags during browsing
- Limited live dealer games
Our Verdict
The primary reason to play here is the Black Lotus promotions, including a $7,000 welcome offer, reload bonuses, free spins, prize drawings, and tournaments. This casino also spreads its games across plenty of categories, despite not having the biggest selection.
The Black Lotus website ran slowly during our review, which hampered our experience. Once we got the games going, though, everything went smoothly. We wouldn’t let the slow-loading website keep you from an otherwise quality CA online casino.
- Unique prize giveaways offering cars, bonus credits, and much more
- VIP club for cryptocurrency users
- Games from Betsoft and Saucify catalog among others
5. CoinPoker – Fastest Payouts in California Online Gambling
🚀 Founded: 2023
📃 License: Curaçao Gaming Control Board
💵 Deposit methods: Crypto
⏱ Deposit speed: 0-15 minutes
💵 Withdrawal methods: Crypto
⏱ Withdrawal speed: 0-12 hours
📧 Email: ([email protected])
💬 24/7 Live Chat
Key Features
- RTP: CoinPoker offers single-deck blackjack with over 99.8% RTP and many online slots paying between 96% and 98%.
- Casino Games: The CoinPoker game selection has grown rapidly from a few hundred games to more than 1,800. Over 1,600 games are slots, while blackjack, roulette, live tables, and specialty games fill out the rest.
- Features: This California online gambling site has a bustling poker room with tournament prize pools up to $200k. You can get 33% rakeback, which is impressive compared to the poker industry average. CoinPoker also has a blog that covers its casino and poker room.
- Promotions: This operator’s biggest weakness is its lack of casino promotions. It does provide a huge poker welcome bonus worth 150% up to $2,000 – but nothing for the casino. The only related promo we see is raffle tickets that you get for wagering 1,000 Tether.
- Banking: CoinPoker operates entirely through cryptocurrencies, save for a service used to buy crypto with credit cards. Provided you’re okay with this setup, you should like the banking here. CoinPoker delivers some of California’s fastest payouts at 0-12 hours on average.
- Site Design: You must download desktop software or a mobile app to use the CoinPoker Casino. We’d appreciate a browser-based option too, but that’s not on the menu.
.
Pros
- Speedy payouts – sometimes under 1 hour
- Large selection of cryptocurrencies
- Rapidly growing online casino
- Mobile app available
- Excellent online poker action
Cons
- No casino sign-up bonus – poker only
- Credit card deposits unavailable
- Can’t play through a browser
Our Verdict
CoinPoker proves more than just a popular online poker site thanks to 1,800+ casino games. It has extremely fast payments, making it a favorite among California casino and poker players. Payouts can arrive in less than an hour.
The lack of browser-based play and credit card deposits may bother some. We wouldn’t let having to download an app or software stop you, though, especially if you want super fast payouts.
- Get 33% online poker rakeback every Monday
- Fully anonymous, instant withdrawals
- No deposit and withdrawal fees with cryptocurrencies
How to Choose the Best California Online Casino
You’ve seen our opinion on the best online casinos in California, but how do you find them on your own? Here’s the criteria we consider when looking for top gaming sites.
Solid Game Selection & High RTP
We don’t expect every Casino online in California to offer thousands of games, but we at least want several hundred. An operator should also cover 4-6 categories, such as slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, live dealer, crash gaming, and scratchcards.
Games with high RTP add to the appeal of quality online CA casinos. We expect some slots with closer to 97% RTP (or higher) and blackjack variations with over 99.5% payback. Sure, the house still has the edge in these cases, but not by as much.
Secure & Licensed Casino
We want reassurance that our funds are safe when playing at real money online casinos in California. A secure gaming site with high-level encryption guarantees your money and personal info are safeguarded from hackers. Check for a padlock next to the address bar to ensure the casino uses encryption.
We also suggest checking that an operator has licensing before depositing. All online casinos serving California are located offshore in jurisdictions like Anjouan (Comoros Union) and Panama. While these aren’t instate licensing bodies, they at least hold casino operators to some standard.
Promotions & Bonus Terms
You shouldn’t have to rely on game results alone for opportunities to win money. The best online casinos in California provide plenty of bonuses and promotions. Everything starts with a decent welcome offer, followed by multiple promos for existing players. Examples of the latter include reload deposit bonuses, cashback, leaderboard races, and free spins.
How realistic are your chances of winning with the promos? This is our next question because a 300% up to $1,000 bonus is only as good as the terms behind it. We prefer wagering requirements to be lower than 40x (bonus + deposit), $10 max bets or higher, and few excluded games. The last part is key because we want the option to play high-paying games when unlocking bonuses.
24/7 Customer Support
Most online casinos that serve California offer 24/7 customer service. Still, we like checking for 24/7 support to be sure. After all, you don’t want account or game issues at 2am with nobody around to help out.
We also recommend checking what support contact methods are available. Email and live chat are essentials, while phone, Telegram, Instagram, and X (Twitter) are nice bonuses.
Smooth Running Website
Most of the Golden State has decent WiFi (i.e., 100-500 megabits per second). So it’s up to the casinos to ensure you have a smooth gaming experience.
We can handle some browsing lag, like during our Black Lotus review – especially when the games run fine. But games crashing multiple times and pages taking 10-15 seconds to load are warning signs of a poor UX.
California Online Casinos Bonuses & Promotions
Bonuses can be the defining characteristics of a California online casino. For example, Black Lotus made it into our top 5 on the strength of its promotions. Let’s look at notable types of CA online casino promos and how worthwhile they are.
Welcome Bonus
Many gaming sites focus on flashy welcome offers worth thousands of dollars. Of course, you don’t need to worry about the dollar amount as much if you’re a low roller. The more important aspects in this case are the match percentage and terms.
Most California online casino bonuses are available upfront, meaning a large match percentage gives you a bigger starting bankroll. For example, a 200% match on a $40 deposit leads to a $120 bankroll. Low wagering requirements (i.e., 30x or lower) provide a better chance to convert these funds into winnings.
Reload Bonus
What’s left after your welcome offer? Hopefully some good reload bonuses. Many top CA casinos provide a variety of promotions for existing players, ranging from deposit bonuses to cashback.
Reload promos aren’t as lucrative as the average welcome bonus. For example, you’ll find plenty of deposit bonuses worth 50-75% up to $100-$300. But you’ll sometimes enjoy more favorable terms to counteract smaller bonuses, such as 20x-25x wagering requirements.
Free Spins
This offer comes attached with a welcome bonus or can be a standard reload bonus. In the first case, a casino could provide a 150% up to $1,000 bonus plus 100 free spins. A standalone free spins offer might give you a 200 free spin bonus for depositing at least $25.
Your spins may be designated for a specific game or available for play on many slots. In either case, you use free games to generate winnings. You’ll then try meeting rollover and other terms to cash out the winnings.
Cashback
The typical cashback deal gives you a percentage of your weekly losses back. For instance, you might receive a 10% rebate on losses occurring from Monday morning until Sunday night.
Many online California casinos award cashback as a bonus with wagering requirements (e.g., 20x). While this extra step is annoying, you at least have an opportunity to earn back some of your losses.
No Deposit Bonus
Some bonuses let you play at real money online casinos in California with no deposit required. For example, a gaming site could give you a $25 free chip after signing up. Reviewers on our staff report also having casinos randomly give them free spins as existing players.
Terms and conditions on California no-deposit bonuses are often stricter than regular promos. After all, casinos want you to work harder for winnings since you’re not risking anything. Common rollover on no-deposit offers is 40x-60x, and the max cashout is often $100 or less.
VIP Rewards
The typical online CA casino loyalty program has several tiers and better rewards as you move up the ladder. You might begin with 5% cashback at the first level, then receive deposit bonuses, birthday gifts, faster withdrawals, and/or 10% cashback while advancing tiers.
Ideally, you’ll become a VIP immediately after placing your first real money bet at an online casino in California. The less desirable route involves contacting customer support or wagering a certain amount before entering the rewards program.
Best California Online Casinos Compared
Here’s a quick look at how top online casinos in California compare in key categories.
| Casino | Welcome Bonus | Rollover | Promo Code | No. of Games | Live Casino |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Casino | 250% up to $1,000 + 125 free spins | 40x | WILD250 | 1,000+ | ✅ |
| Bovada | 125% up to $1,250 | 25x | BTCCWB1250 | 600+ | ✅ |
| BetWhale Casino | 125% up to $1,250 (sports) | 10x | WHALECOME | 400+ | ✅ |
| Black Lotus | 200% up to $7,000 + 30 free spins | 60x | 200BLACK | 300+ | ✅ |
| CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 (poker) | 2x the rake | N/A | 1,800+ | ✅ |
| Lucky Creek | 200% up to $7,500 + 30 free spins | 40x | 200GETLUCKY | 300+ | ✅ |
| Lucky Red | 400% up to $4,000 + 75 free spins | 50x | LUCKYRED400 | 250+ | ❌ |
| Ignition Casino | 150% up to $3,000 | 25x | N/A | 400+ | ✅ |
| TG.Casino | 200% up to 10 ETH + 50 free spins | 60x | N/A | 5,000+ | ✅ |
| BetUS | 250% up to $5,000 | 40x | CAS250 | 400+ | ✅ |
Best Online Casino Payment Methods in California
The California online gambling market provides several ways for you to deposit at and withdraw funds from casinos. As we’ll discuss, some of these banking options are better than others for CA players.
Debit/Credit Card
Debit and credit cards are possibly the most popular ways to deposit at gaming sites. Credit/debit cards are easy to use and provide instant funding to your casino account.
Unfortunately, only about 50% of your deposits will go through from California. Banks are quick to reject transactions heading to offshore casinos. Some gaming sites also charge you for using credit and debit cards to cover the third-party processing fees they incur.
Cryptocurrencies
Want an easy way to make deposits and withdrawals at gaming sites? Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin allow you to fund your account and cash out without bank involvement.
This means you won’t face rejected transactions, and payments are often processed in under an hour. If you’re seeking even faster payouts, instant withdrawal casinos are a great option, offering near-instant cashouts for players using crypto. However, be cautious: if you send funds to the wrong wallet address, there’s no recourse to recover your money.
eWallets
Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal offer secure ways to deposit and withdraw money from gaming sites. You link your credit card or bank account to your eWallet, making transactions straightforward.
However, despite their convenience, these options are not currently available for online gambling in California.
Bank Wire
A bank wire lets you send or receive funds when playing at online casinos. The process is often slow because you’re dealing with offshore casinos and banks located outside the state. Still, you might consider bank wires if you prefer traditional deposit and withdrawal methods.
We warn you that the minimum cashouts and fees can be ridiculous. For example, we’ve reviewed online casinos that require a $150 minimum withdrawal and charge Californians $50 for using bank wires.
Popular Games at California Online Casino Sites
You can enjoy a broad range of online casino games in California. Let’s look at popular game types along with relevant strategies and their RTP.
Slots
Most online casinos offer hundreds or even thousands of slots, so you’ll have many themes to pick from. You can also expect different types of California online slots, such as payline, winning ways, and cluster pays. We find the last one really interesting because you can form payout clusters all over the grid.
CA online slots don’t involve much strategy, which is perfect if you’re a casual gambler. The downside is that they generally don’t have outstanding RTP, with payout percentages commonly in the 95-96% range.
The best strategy is to find games with RTP above 96%. We’ve mentioned slots like 8 Lucky Charms (97.4% RTP) and Gold Rush Gus (98.48%) that easily pay above this amount.
Blackjack
The Golden State has weird blackjack rules that include four jokers, 56-card decks, and a top score of 22. You can even win with 23 through convoluted rules.
You should check out online blackjack in California if you’re seeking traditional 21 and common variants (e.g., Perfect Pairs). Gaming sites offer $1 minimum bets and high RTP depending upon the variation. We’ve found online single-deck games with up to 99.85% payback.
You’ll need to master strategy to achieve optimal RTP with online blackjack in California. Make sure you research the correct strategy for whatever variant you’re playing. For example, Atlantic City rules require a slightly different approach than Vegas Downtown.
Roulette
California gambling laws prohibit a ball from determining game outcomes. Tribal casinos bypass this regulation by using 38 playing cards (representing the pockets) and choosing one to determine a winner. Like blackjack, this may be another case where you want the real thing.
Offshore casinos offer American and European roulette. The American version is similar to California tribal roulette because it has 38 pockets and 94.74% RTP. The superior European wheel has 37 pockets and 97.30% RTP, so choose this game when possible.
Other Table Games
Most CA online casinos offer a variety of table games beyond blackjack and roulette. Examples include baccarat, Caribbean stud, craps, Pai Gow poker, three-card poker, and war.
Payout percentages vary greatly depending upon the game type and specific bets. For example, the baccarat banker wager (98.94% RTP) is almost as favorable as playing single-deck blackjack.
Meanwhile, Caribbean stud only offers 94.78% RTP when you use perfect strategy. The best reason to play this game is to hunt for progressive jackpots while enjoying poker.
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer casinos include many of the table games covered already. The key difference is that you’re facing a human dealer in a real-life casino studio.
The RTP of live games is comparable to software-based versions. For example, plenty of live blackjack variations offer over 99.5% payback with perfect strategy. The main difference is that the live minimum bets are usually $10 or higher versus $1 for software-generated games.
Specialty Games
This category includes bingo, crash gaming, keno, and scratchcards – basically most of the non-traditional casino games. These games are similar to slots regarding their payout percentages and limited strategy.
Bingo and keno are similar number-based games, while scratchcards are much like scratch-off tickets you’d buy at a convenience store. Crash is an up-and-coming genre that involves wagering on what bet multiplier will turn up.
Best Casinos Online in California by Game Type
While we stand behind all of our California online casino recommendations, some are better in different areas than others. For example, certain gaming sites have more slots, premier software providers, and/or higher-paying games. The following table shows standout casinos in various categories.
| Game Type | Best Online Casino | Amount of Games | Highest RTP | Leading Software Provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slots | Wild Casino | 973 | 97.79% | Betsoft |
| Blackjack | BetUS | 25 | 96.62% | Nucleus Gaming |
| Roulette | TG.Casino | 31 | 98.65% | Evoplay |
| Casino Poker | Ignition | 7 | 97.99% | RealTime Gaming |
| Craps | CoinPoker | 2 | 98.64% | Evolution |
| Jackpot | Bovada | 89 | 98.48% | RealTime Gaming |
| Keno | Black Lotus | 4 | 95.04% | Saucify |
| Live Dealer | BetWhale | 23 | 99.42% | BetGames |
Are Online Casinos Legal in California?
Online casinos lie in a gray area in the Golden State. California hasn’t regulated online gaming but takes a hands-off approach to offshore casinos. Like in other jurisdictions, law enforcement has never arrested anybody for gambling online for real money in California. You can play at offshore casinos here in relative comfort.
Will this state ever feature licensed gaming sites? The future remains unclear because tribal casinos, racetracks, and card rooms can’t find common ground and fight against each other over the issue.
Prop 27, which would’ve permitted tribal casinos to offer online sports betting, was defeated in 2022. We don’t see licensed California online casinos coming anytime soon if sports gambling can’t pass.
Offshore Casino Sites vs State-Licensed Casinos
Offshore gaming sites provide an outlet for playing online casino games in the absence of California state-licensed casinos. Assuming this state did have a licensed market, what would be the difference be compared to offshore casinos? Here are key ways that the two casino types would differ.
- Regulation: State-licensed online casinos would operate under a local gambling control commission; offshore online casinos follow rules from outside licensing bodies like the Panama Gaming Control Board.
- Gaming: Some offshore casinos offer 1,000 games or more; many state-licensed gaming sites in other states have 300-600 games.
- Bonuses/Promotions: Offshore operators feature significant welcome bonuses and other promos; state-licensed sites in other jurisdictions usually provide moderate bonuses and limited promos afterward.
- Payment Methods: State-licensed casinos feature traditional payment methods like bank transfers, credit cards, and eWallets; offshore casinos normally offer bank wire, credit cards, and cryptocurrencies.
- Available states: Most offshore online casinos serve 40-45 states; state-licensed casinos would only operate within California boundaries, using geolocation to keep players from gambling beyond state lines.
Top 10 California Online Casinos
Now that you know offshore gaming sites are regulated, safe, and offer plenty of advantages, you may be wondering about the best options. Here are our picks for the top 10 online casinos in California:
- Wild Casino – The best overall California online casino due to its 1,000 games, huge sign-up bonus, regular promos, and high withdrawal limits.
- Bovada – Consistently offers the biggest CA online slots jackpots on the strength of its exclusive RTG progressive prizes.
- BetWhale – Has interesting live dealer casino games, like the sports-themed T-Kick and the lottery-themed Lucky 5.
- Black Lotus – Offers an excellent lineup of promotions, beginning with a 200% up to $7,000 welcome bonus.
- CoinPoker – Delivers some of the fastest payments in California online gaming and runs a weekly $200k poker tournament.
- Lucky Creek – A sister site to Black Lotus that also has impressive promos, including up to a $7,500 sign-up bonus.
- Lucky Red Casino – Features a different promotion every day of the week, including free chips, slots bonuses, and unlimited all-games bonuses.
- Ignition Casino – Combines unique casino games (e.g., virtual sports) with a popular online poker room.
- TG.Casino – Has a massive selection of over 5,000 games – the biggest among all California online casinos we’ve reviewed.
- BetUS – Offers a few notable features, including big bonuses, 25 blackjack variations, and dozens of table games.
Expert Tips for Playing at Online Casinos for Real Money
You can’t guarantee winnings when playing at CA gaming sites because the house always has the edge. But you can give yourself a fighting chance by following the tips below.
- Find bonuses with low rollover – Low wagering requirements give you a stronger chance at cashing out bonus winnings. Look for bonuses that have 20x-30x rollover.
- Play games with high RTP – Combine bonuses with high-paying games to boost your winnings. Check the terms to make sure these games aren’t excluded from a bonus or have incredibly low rollover contributions (i.e., 5-10%).
- Know the casino you’re dealing with – We recommend safe casinos to ensure you get fast payments and enjoy fair games. If you research offshore casinos on your own, make certain they’re legit because there’s no state regulator to help you with potential issues.
- Use crypto when possible – You face the prospect of deposit rejections and/or high fees when depositing with credit cards from California. We prefer crypto to avoid deposit issues and get paid faster after winning.
- Sign up at different casinos – Joining multiple CA online casinos gives you quick access to more bonuses and games with high RTP.
California Mobile Casinos
Most online casinos in California don’t offer mobile apps. CoinPoker is the only operator we’ve recently reviewed that features a CA casino app. Even without many CA casino apps available, you can still play at online casinos through your mobile browser.
Many casinos are well optimized for smartphone and tablet play. In fact, the average gaming site focuses on its mobile platform over the desktop version because this is where most people play.
Key Takeaways – What is the Best Online Casino in California?
California may not offer state-licensed gaming sites, but you’ll find no shortage of offshore casinos here. We’ve found many safe offshore operators that have licensing in jurisdictions like Panama and Anjouan. But what are the absolute best California online casinos?
Wild Casino leads our list, followed by Bovada, BetWhale, Black Lotus, and CoinPoker. All of these casinos score well to excellent regarding bonuses, games, payment methods, and customer support.
We don’t see the Golden State creating a licensed online gaming market anytime soon. So these will be your best online casino options in California for the foreseeable future.
California Online Casinos FAQs
Is online gambling legal in California?
What is the best online casino for California players?
Can you play at online casinos for real money in California?
What games can I play at California casinos online?
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Do online casinos in California offer no deposit bonuses?
References
- https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/gambling/ninteenthhole.pdf (California blackjack rules)
- https://www.britannica.com/one-good-fact/how-do-californians-play-roulette-without-a-ball (California roulette laws)
- https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=27&year=2022 (Prop 27 to allow CA online sports betting)