The Golden State is famous for many things, among which are its pro sport teams and its 70 plus poker rooms. However, hopes that enthusiasts of either might have had of going online to place a few dollars on the Rams or have a game of Texas Holdem poker have been dashed, at least for the time being.
Online betting enthusiasts had high hopes that California would join the 30-plus other US states that have legalized sports betting in the four years since the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018. From there, there was optimism that poker rooms might follow. California is, after all, considered the poker capital of the US. Legislative reform to bring Californian poker into the online age does not seem outrageous, but the results of the vote on Proposition 27 suggest it is still some way off.
Gambling in California
Current gambling laws in the US’s most populous state limit betting activity to Native American casinos, horse racing tracks, the State Lottery and, of course, those famous poker rooms. Proposition 27 sought to legalize online sports betting through platforms issued with state licenses. Similar reforms have been rolled out across more than 30 other states since 2018.
Online poker and casino gaming were not part of this conversation. However, several states that have legalized online sports betting and seen the tax revenue it brings are looking at expanding the reforms to encompass these other types of online gambling. In other words, Proposition 27 would have been a first step that would have brought online poker onto the agenda.
Voters, however, had other ideas. Commentators knew that Prop 27, along with another gambling proposition that was heard alongside it, would face opposition. But few could predict that it would be rejected by such a landslide. More than 80 percent of voters said no, despite the millions invested by the likes of Fanduel and Draftkings in lobbying.
Where Does That Leave Online Poker?
The strange thing is, for many online poker players, sports betting fans and even casino gamers, it is business as usual. There are plenty of online providers already. That might lead you to ask hang on, so is online poker legal in California after all? The answer is a somewhat unsatisfying it depends.
From the perspective of US poker players living in California, there is nothing to stop them from visiting one of a dozen or more online poker providers that are based out of state and, in most cases, out of the US. These are licensed in other jurisdictions, and provided players are cautious and read independent reviews before joining, they are safe and secure.
If you happen to operate a poker room in California and want to spread your footprint into cyberspace, however, it is a different story. That would breach California gambling laws. Exactly the same conditions apply to sports betting and casino games. The resources already exist in cyberspace for all to see and use. It is California’s domestic gambling operators who feel this latest regulatory misstep most strongly.