Gambling Laws of California Legal Aspects of Gambling

In California, the minimum age requirement for engaging in various forms of online gambling differs:

• Online Casinos: There isn't a definitive legal stance on online casinos in California. However, many online casinos operating within the state set their minimum age requirement at 21, which aligns with the legal drinking age in California.
• Sports Betting: Currently, sports betting in California is limited to on-site betting at tribal casinos under Proposition 1A, with a minimum age limit of 18.
• Poker: Land-based card rooms in California have been legal since 1984, allowing players to engage in card games against each other. To participate, individuals must be over 18 years old. However, there are no legally sanctioned online poker rooms in the state, although some online operators offer these services but aren't regulated by the state. It's suggested that they typically set their minimum age requirement at 21, again in line with the legal drinking age.

Therefore, the minimum age requirements for online gambling in California tend to vary between 18 and 21 years, depending on the specific type of online gambling activity being pursued.

Parimutuel betting in California, specifically concerning horse racing, operates on a system where bets are pooled together, and odds are determined by the overall betting pool rather than fixed odds set by a bookmaker. Here's how it works:

• Betting Pool: All bets placed on a particular race are combined into a pool. This pool of money is then used to pay out winning bets after deducting the track's takeout (commission) and taxes.
• Odds Calculation: The odds for each horse are not set beforehand. Instead, they are dynamically determined by the total amount of money wagered on each horse. The more money bet on a horse, the lower the odds will be and vice versa. This system ensures that the odds accurately reflect the betting public's sentiment.
• Payouts: After the race, the total pool is distributed among the winning bets. The payouts depend on the final odds at the time the race starts. If you placed a winning bet on a horse with higher odds, your payout will be larger since fewer people might have bet on that horse.
• Types of Bets: Parimutuel betting offers various bet types, including win (betting on a specific horse to win), place (betting on a horse to finish first or second), show (betting on a horse to finish first, second, or third), as well as more complex bets like exacta (predicting the top two horses in the correct order) and trifecta (predicting the top three horses in the correct order).

In California, parimutuel betting on horse racing has a long history and is regulated by the California Horse Racing Board. Individuals can place bets at the racetracks, off-track betting facilities, and sometimes online platforms specifically authorized to accept bets on horse racing.

In California, several forms of gambling are legally permissible under specific regulations and laws. Here are the main types:

• Tribal Casinos: After legislative changes in 2000, tribal-run land-based casinos were legalized on tribal lands. These casinos offer Class III casino games, slot machines, and electronic gambling machines. Most of these casinos set their minimum entry age to 21 due to alcohol being served onsite, although the legal casino age in California is 18.
• Card Rooms: Legalized in 1984, card rooms operate where players can engage in card games against each other and not the house. These games, mainly poker, are allowed under specific regulations.
• Pari-Mutuel Betting on Horse Racing: Betting on horse racing through the parimutuel system is legal in California. Since 1933, residents have been able to place bets on horse races, both in person at tracks and more recently, online.
• State Lottery: California has a state lottery, established in 1985, with proceeds directed toward state educational charities. Individuals over 18 years old can participate in various lottery games.
• Bingo: Bingo games are legal in California for individuals aged 18 and above. Charitable organizations often organize these games as fundraising activities.
• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): Though existing in a legal grey area, Daily Fantasy Sports operate with an implied legality. Players must be at least 21 years old to participate.

• California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC): The CGCC is a key regulatory agency that oversees and regulates gambling activities in the state. It is responsible for licensing and regulating card rooms, ensuring compliance with laws related to card gaming, and implementing regulations for gambling establishments.
• California Horse Racing Board (CHRB): The CHRB is responsible for regulating horse racing and parimutuel betting on horse races within California. It oversees horse racing events, licenses race tracks, and ensures the integrity of the horse racing industry.
• Tribal-State Gaming Compacts: Tribal gaming operations in California are overseen through compacts negotiated between the state and individual Native American tribes. These compacts establish the terms and regulations under which tribal casinos operate. The compacts are approved by the Governor and the federal government.
• Department of Justice (DOJ): The DOJ oversees certain aspects of gambling enforcement in California. It deals with issues related to illegal gambling activities, investigates violations of gambling laws, and enforces regulations pertaining to gambling crimes.