Unregulated, daily fantasy sports is active in California, though the end of 2023 brought much attention to this by State Senator Scott Wilk. He wrote a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta asking him to focus on whether gambling laws prohibit paid DFS contests. With other states claiming paid daily fantasy contests should require a sports betting license, the status of DFS in California is up in the air.[1]
Cardrooms
Licensed cardrooms may offer approved card games in which players vie against each other (rather than against the house), such as poker.[2] As of 2019, there were 66 cardrooms operating in the state (and another 21 licensed but not operating).[3] Since 1995, there has been a moratorium on new cardrooms.[4][5] The industry generated $850 million in revenue after payouts in 2018.[4]
Non-banked card games such as poker have always been legal in the state.[6] The California Penal Code, enacted in 1872, prohibited several casino games by name, as well as all house-banked games, but did not outlaw poker.[7] Cardrooms also operate non-banked versions of card games such as pai gow poker and baccarat, where players can take turns playing the dealer hand against the other players.[8] However, in these cardrooms, an independent operator known in state law as a "third party provider of proposition services" usually acts as the "house" and the casino earns revenue on a fee charged to the proposition service provider and fees charged to players to play a hand.[9][10][11] Statewide cardroom regulations were enacted in 1984.[12] In 1997, the Gambling Control Act was adopted, which created the California Gambling Control Commission to regulate California cardrooms.[12]
Charitable gaming
Eligible nonprofit organizations may operate bingo games,[13]raffles,[14] and poker nights.[15] Organizations are limited to one poker night per year.[15]
State voters in 1976 approved a constitutional amendment allowing counties and cities to legalize charitable bingo.[16][17] An amendment to allow charitable raffles passed in 2000, and enabling legislation went into effect in 2001.[18][19] Legislation allowing poker night fundraisers took effect in 2007.[20][21]
Parimutuel wagering
Parimutuel wagering on horse racing is permitted at racetracks and satellite wagering facilities, and online through advance-deposit wagering providers.[22][23] Extended racing meets are held throughout the year at five tracks: Cal Expo, Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, Los Alamitos, and Santa Anita.[24] Four other fairgrounds tracks hold brief meets in the summer and early fall.[24] There are 27 satellite wagering facilities throughout the state, most of them found at county fairgrounds, cardrooms, and tribal casinos.[25] Racing and wagering is regulated by the California Horse Racing Board.[26] As of 2018, the annual amount wagered on California races was $3.2 billion, with $662 million retained after payouts.[27]
Horse race wagering was legalized by voter referendum in 1933.[28] Satellite wagering was first legalized at fairgrounds in 1985,[29] and was expanded to private facilities in 2008.[30] Advance-deposit wagering became legal in 2002.[31]
Indian gaming
Federally recognized tribes can operate casinos under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. As of 2019, there were 63 casinos operated by 61 different tribes.[32] The industry generates approximately $8 billion in annual revenue after payouts.[4] Pursuant to tribal-state compacts negotiated with the state, tribes with larger casinos share a portion of their revenues with non-gaming or limited gaming tribes (those with fewer than 350 slot machines).[33]
