Casinos in California – Our Top Places to Play in CA

The Best Casino in California

The Biggest Casinos in California

Are There Indian Casinos in California

Indian casinos are classed as gambling establishments that are built on tribal or native lands, and these entities operate according to different tax and regulatory rules in comparison with commercial entities. As we’ve already touched on, there are a huge number of Indian casinos operational in California. At last count, 67 were licensed and open, and there’s the potential for this to increase in the future.

Racinos

Racinos are defined as gambling establishments that combine both casino facilities and a functional racetrack, and there are hundreds of such locations dotted throughout the US. However, none of these will be found in California, which continues to be dominated by tribal resorts and cruise ship casinos.

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in California?

The coastal sunshine state of California hugs the West Coast tightly in the US, and it should therefore come as no surprise that the state is home to 18 cruise ship casinos. These are resorts based at harbors and the waterside, and they offer a truly unique and exotic gambling experience to punters. Read on to review the full range of cruise ship casinos in CA.

Full California Casino List

In the following list, we’ll take a closer look at gambling cities throughout the state. We’ll also check out the distances between some of these resorts along the west coast. We’ve only included land-based establishments, so you won’t find the best online casinos in CA listed below.

Expected New Casinos

Numerous tribal casino projects are in the pipeline, including the Cloverdale Rancheria Resort & Casino in Sonoma County which has already been approved. Meanwhile, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians in California plan to build a 400,000 square-foot casino in Vallejo, although this project has faced stiff opposition, with approval temporarily rescinded.

Gambling in California

Casino Games in California

In the following section, we’ll review the full range of legal games available in California, taking into account both Indian and cruise ship resorts dotted across the length and breadth of the state. So, let’s get started!

Gambling Legal Situation in California

Taxation of Winnings

All winnings in California are subject to a 24% federal tax levy, aside from any funds generated from lottery participation. If you’re winnings exceed $5,000, you may be required to pay an additional state tax based on local authority income rates.

California Gambling Laws

History

Outside of market leading gambling states such as Nevada and New Jersey, California boasts some of the most progressive gambling laws in North America. This should not come as a major surprise, of course, given the West Coast known as a frontier state that has a long history of regulated (and unregulated) gambling as well as horse racing. Let’s take a look at some of the key historical points, below:

• 1848–1855: During the California Gold Rush, gambling became a widespread pastime. San Francisco, in particular, emerged as a major gambling hub, surpassing New Orleans in prominence. Gambling establishments were common, and games like poker and faro were popular among prospectors and settlers.
• 1909: California enacted laws that criminalized most forms of gambling in 1909, including betting and casino-style games. This legislation aimed to curb the proliferation of gambling activities, though underground gambling persisted.
• 1984: Voters approved Proposition 37 in 1984, establishing the California State Lottery. The lottery was introduced to generate additional funding for public education and marked the state’s first major legal gambling initiative since the early 20th-century bans.
• 1987: On February 25, 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, affirming that states could not regulate gambling activities on tribal lands if such gaming was permitted elsewhere in the state. This landmark decision paved the way for the expansion of tribal gaming operation.
• 2000: California voters passed Proposition 1A in March 2000, amending the state constitution to allow federally recognized tribes to operate slot machines, lottery games, and banked and percentage card games on Indian lands. This measure led to the establishment of numerous tribal casinos across the state..

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

While there have been expectations that California will legalize online casino gambling and sports betting for years now, this is unlikely in the near-term. Legislation proposals have always faced stiff opposition and ultimately, failure, particularly given concerns over the potential impact on tribal casinos. For any such legislatory changes to be approved, there must be complete agreement among all the California tribes.

Senate Bill 549, which came into effect on January 1, 2025, has also sparked casino war between tribal casinos and card casinos in California. The dispute centers on “house-banked” games like blackjack, poker, and baccarat. Tribes claim exclusive rights to these under Proposition 1A, approved by voters in 2000. The outcome of this legal battle could have significant repurcussions for cardrooms in California.