A Guide To Gambling Laws In California
The state of California offers comprehensive legal oversight for gaming / gambling vendors and participants who wish to fully understand and comply with California gambling laws. The California Gambling Control Commission is in charge of establishing and enforcing regulations surrounding card rooms, tribal gaming businesses, the brick and mortar casinos and remote caller bingo. This inclusive code also indicates when and where California residents and visitors can gamble.
Respected California Indian tribes are heavily involved in the industry, and participate in active tribal gambling compacts between the state and several of the prominent tribes in the region, which allows for multiple Indian casinos in California.
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What is the legal gambling age in California?
Generally speaking, players in California must be at least 21 years of age to enter a gaming establishment. Although many other states have instituted an age of majority of 18 years, California remains one of the few conservative territories on the issue. Violation of this law is taken seriously in California, and is subject to criminal penalties. The state's legal gambling age must also be adhered to when participating in legitimate offshore online casino gambling.
Legal Casinos And Game Rooms In California
More than sixty of the casinos and resorts located throughout California are protected under the federally recognized tribal gaming compacts. There are numerous other physical casinos in California, located in all fifty eight counties. In addition, various bingo halls and entertainment establishments offer intermittent opportunities for interested players.
The California Gambling Control Act is one of the most finite guidelines since the formal establishment of regulations began in 1984. The Act governs both the vendors and the locations that offer continuous and period gambling options for patrons.
Regular inspections are routinely performed and all gaming locations are randomly monitored to ensure the strictest adherence to the California gambling laws. Vending licenses are granted only after all requirements have been met and the licensing fee has been paid.
In addition to the initial conditions that must be fulfilled, continuing education and acts of service to raise community awareness are also prerequisites to license renewal. Public information must include outreach services and support for gamblers who think they may have an addiction or otherwise want to curb their gambling activities.
Is Online Casino Gambling Legal in California?
Although vendors are able to obtain a license to promote gambling in their brick and mortar casino or entertainment venue, it is currently illegal to own and operate an online casino in California. As for players who wish to partake of online casino gambling services that are operated from other countries outside of the US, there is no US federal law prohibiting it as long as you are accessing an online casino destination that is legally authorized to operate in the industry.
These types of gambling sites offer a nice selection of California online casino games, including some of the most popular options such as California online blackjack, slots, roulette, video poker, baccarat, and others. The online gambling landscape in the US is changing rapidly. The Department of Justice has determined that each individual state in the US can determine whether or not they want to offer state regulated online gambling to their residents and visitors. As of this writing, several states have moved forward with this option, including New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada.
For the time being, California residents can rest assured that they are able to enjoy online gambling options from real-money online California casinos that are owned, operated and overseen outside of the US. There are no state or federal laws that prohibit California residents from signing up with any internationally organized online casino. As long as the online casinos are legally sanctioned, Californians are free to enjoy this type of gambling entertainment.