California is the richest and most populous state in the U.S., and therefore an important market for gambling. However, its political landscape is complex, and competing interests have tended to sink most attempts at gambling expansion, despite the state’s overall liberal politics.
Retail poker is huge in California, thanks to its many cardrooms, which can legally offer only player-vs.-player, card-based forms of gambling. Many of the biggest tournaments and most popular poker streams in the U.S. take place at venues in California, like Bay 101, Commerce Casino, the Bicycle, and Stones Gambling Hall.
Online poker is a different story, being illegal for real money in the state. For a time, sweepstakes poker rooms targeted California residents, but the state banned that business model in September 2025.
The L.A. Poker Classic, a long-running staple in tournament poker, may be close to disappearing if the registration numbers for… Continue reading L.A. Poker Classic Draws Just 26 Entries on Day One — Registration Still Open on Day Two
The California cardroom industry has been rocked by the confirmation that blackjack will be banned, with some of the operators… Continue reading California Cardrooms Warn of Mass Layoffs, Impending Lawsuit Following Blackjack Ban
There’s a shadow hanging over the L.A. Poker Classic (LAPC), as locals say they’re worried about the future of poker… Continue reading Los Angeles Poker is Dying — Players Say Venues No Longer Care About Tournaments
The California Department of Justice has received final approval for new rules for cardrooms in the state, which will ban blackjack and require that… Continue reading California Bans Blackjack at Cardrooms, Places Limits on Prop Dealers
An investigation is underway after a 70-year-old trespassing casino guest died in police custody in San Pablo, California. The individual… Continue reading California Casino Trespasser Dies While in Custody
Law enforcement in Lancaster, California, raided an illegal “tap-tap” casino that, like other so-called “slap houses,” had been a hub… Continue reading California Authorities Raid Illegal ‘Tap-Tap’ Casino to Continue Crackdown on ‘Slap Houses’
A wild melee that included a stabbing created an ugly scene at Hard Rock Tejon Casino, a black mark on… Continue reading Stabbing Puts Black Eye on Hard Rock Tejon’s Early Months
Starting on Jan. 1, California residents playing on ClubWPT Gold will have to work around some bizarre rules that the… Continue reading ClubWPT Gold Adds Convoluted Rules for California Residents, Including Nine-Day Monthly Limit on Redeeming Chips for Cash
An online game operator appears to be testing the waters with a new style of game in New York and… Continue reading Card Crush: Single-Currency Game Seeks Way Around California, New York Sweeps Bans
Popular sweepstakes poker site ClubWPT Gold plans to remain in California despite a recent ban on such operators. The operator… Continue reading ClubWPT Gold Expects New Business Model Will Allow it to Remain in California
