1933 |
The California Horse Racing Act legalized pari-mutuel betting on horse racing events. |
1984 |
The California State Lottery Act of 1984 legalized lottery games. Card rooms were also allowed to operate in the state. |
1987 |
The California Gambling Control Commission was established to regulate card rooms and clubs in the Golden State. |
1998 |
Native American casinos owned and operated by local tribes were legalized in California. |
2018 |
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned by the Supreme Court. |
2024 |
The California Tribal Sports Betting Initiative (#23-0031), which could have legalized online and in-person sports wagering, failed to enter the 2024 general election ballot. |
When it comes to gambling, California is one of the most restrictive US states. As of writing this article, online gambling remains illegal with only a very few exceptions, including social and sweepstakes casino sites. Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing events has been legal in the Golden State since 1933.
As you can see in the legalization timeline above, a few decades later, in 1984, lottery games and card clubs were also legalized. This led to the establishment of the California Gambling Control Commission, which main purpose is to regulate the market by imposing strict rules and safety standards.
Native American casinos were legalized in 1998, and today, there are more than 70 establishments owned by local tribes. Following the 2018 overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), several unsuccessful attempts were made to legalize sports betting and real money online casinos in California.