The History of Gambling In California

The history of gambling in California can be broken down into four major categories. Poker, the state lottery system, horse racing and Las Vegas style California casinos all have their own unique history in the Golden State.

California’s unique state laws and judicial measures do not cast a broad blanket over the legality or illegality of gambling in their state, but rather make some forms of gambling entertainment illegal and some forms legal. For instance, the traditional craps played with dice is not allowed in California, but California does allow for Indian tribe casinos to offer a variation of the game of craps by using a deck of cards instead of dice.

And with California gambling laws governing casinos, horse tracks, the lottery system and poker in that state, the long and rich history of gambling in California has culminated in a statewide industry which generates more revenue from gambling than nearly every other state in the US. There are more than 160 casinos and or card rooms throughout the state, over 21,000 retail outlets where you can buy lottery tickets, and 6 horse tracks.

There are currently not any state or federal laws prohibiting residents from participating in California gambling online. Poker has one of the richest traditions of all wagering forms in California, so let’s take a look at that first.

History of Poker Gambling in California

According to the California Constitution poker is considered a game of skill, so physical card rooms which are also known as “California casinos” or card clubs have been around literally since California earned their statehood in 1850. Many of the more than 100 California poker rooms that operate in the state are small mom-and-pop enterprises, but there are also those facilities with as many as 100 or 200 poker tables.

The Commerce Casino and Hotel in Commerce, California is one of the largest poker rooms in the United States, offering more than 240 poker tables and 90,000 square feet of gaming floor space.

History of the California Lottery

The history of gambling in California would not be complete without mention of the California lottery, which was created by public passage of Proposition 37 in 1984. The current California lottery system includes multiple games which are played on a biweekly and even twice daily basis in some cases, and the very first lottery contest ever offered were simple scratch cards.

History Of Horse Racing In The Golden State

California horse race wagering began when it was legalized in 1933 with an amendment to the California Constitution, and there are currently 6 major horse racetracks and over 30 off-track betting (OTB) locations throughout the state. Built in 1907, the Santa Anita Park in California is one of the premier thoroughbred race tracks in the world.

History of the California Casino Gambling

Casinos exist in the form of Las Vegas style brick-and-mortar institutions on Native American land, thanks to a constitutional amendment that California voters passed in 2000. Individual Indian tribes looking to benefit from a physical casino in the state negotiate compacts governing lease arrangements, tax regulation and other matters.

Most Indian owned casinos in California receive Class I and Class II gaming licenses, meaning they are allowed to offer card games like blackjack and poker, as well as slot machines and bingo rooms. As mentioned above, games which have been legalized like craps and roulette that use cards instead of dice are allowed in these casinos as well.

The Santa Ysabel Resort and Casino is one Indian run Casino located in Santa Ysabel which offers 349 slot machines, 6 gaming tables, live poker and blackjack. The history of gambling in California has a rich and diverse past, and offers many current responsible wagering opportunities in the Golden State.

Online Gambling History Being Made As We Speak In California

New history may be made concerning California’s casino industry as the state is currently considering the possibility of legalizing state licensed online gambling. Both poker and casino gambling have been discussed for a state based virtual platform, and legislation is currently being prepared for presentation, with a vote one way or the other expected to happen in 2025, which may lead to the launch of a state sponsored online casino platform in the state of California.

They would be joining NJ, NV and DE who have already launched their own respective online gambling initiatives.