Best Online Poker Sites January 2025 – Play Online Poker in California

 

Can you play online poker in California despite the lack of local gaming sites? Yes, but only if you know which operators are active in the Golden State.

I’ve sifted through the local gambling regulations and tested every legitimate place to play poker online in California. After countless weeks of research, here are the best online poker sites in California and why you should try them.

10
/ 10
# 1
Coinpoker

150% deposit bonus up to $2,000

  • Get 33% online poker rakeback every Monday
  • Fully anonymous, instant withdrawal crypto poker
  • Free from deposit and withdrawal fees if you use crypto
9.9
/ 10
# 2
BetOnline

100% Bonus up to $1,000 + 8 days of Tournament Tickets

  • Tourney series - Sunday Majors & Progressive Bounties
  • Modern client with 3D visuals, straddle, odds & features
  • New Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0 can exceed $30,000 online
9.8
/ 10
# 3
Bovada

100% Bonus up to $500

  • Zone Poker and anonymous tables for casual play
  • $2 million in weekly poker tournament guarantees
  • Mobile poker client with up to four tables at one time
9.7
/ 10
# 4
Ignition

100% Poker Bonus + 100% Casino Combo Bonus

  • $2 million in weekly poker tournament guarantees
  • Zone Poker and anonymous tables for casual play
  • Mobile poker client with up to four tables at one time
9.8
/ 10
# 5
ACR Poker

New Player Bonus Up To $2,000

  • Massive daily tournament schedule
  • Great deposit methods with local options
  • Fast payouts within the hour
Show more

Comparing the Best California Poker Sites

How do the top places to play online poker for real money in California compare? Here’s a quick overview of the top sites, their bonuses, and gaming options.

California Poker Site Welcome Bonus Promo Code Poker Network Poker Games
CoinPoker 150% deposit bonus up to $2,000 CPLAYER Independent NLHE, PLO, 5-Card PLO
Ignition 100% poker bonus + 100% casino bonus up to $3,000 N/A PaiWangLuo Poker Hold’em, Omaha
ACR Poker 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 CP1000 Winning Poker Network Hold’em, Omaha, Stud
Black Chip Poker 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 CP100BCP Winning Poker Network Hold’em, Omaha, Stud
BetOnline 100% deposit bonus up to $1,000 NEWBOL Chico Hold’em, Omaha, 6+, Pineapple

Reviews of the Best Online Poker Sites in California

We need to build a foundation before we talk about how to play online poker in California. The foundation, as you’d expect, is made up of high-quality CA poker sites.

I’ve tested the top platforms and found five that stand out from the crowd. I’ll give you my personal take on these online poker CA sites at the end of this guide.

Before that, here are some important facts and figures for what I believe are the best online poker sites in California.

1. CoinPoker – Best Overall California Poker Site

  • Poker Network: Independent
  • License: Curaçao eGaming
  • Payments Accepted: BTC, ETH, USDT, BNB, POL, CHP

Feature Ratings

What makes CoinPoker the best place to play online poker in California? Here are a few reasons:

  • Poker Games Variety 10/10: CoinPoker only offers Hold’em and Omaha (including 5-Card), but their range of buy-ins mean there’s more choice than other online poker CA sites. Cash game limits range from ₮0.01/₮0.02 to a staggering ₮1,000/₮2,000.
  • Poker Tournaments 8/10: Sundays are the best day for MTTs at CoinPoker with over ₮600,000 in guaranteed prize money. There isn’t as much added value throughout the week, but there are plenty of affordable tournaments every hour.
  • Traffic and Player Base 8/10: CoinPoker doesn’t attract as many players at ACR Poker and Black Chip, but there are still over 2,000 people logged in at peak times.
  • Software Quality 10/10: Despite the fact it doesn’t have many fun features, CoinPoker’s software still gets top marks because it uses the latest blockchain technology.
  • Mobile Friendliness 7/10: You might run into a few glitches when it comes to installing CoinPoker’s iOS and Android apps. However, once you’ve installed the app, the software is slick and easy to use.
  • Bonuses 9/10: The multi-part welcome bonus at CoinPoker is extremely generous, but the best offer of all is 33% rakeback when you stake the operator’s crypto token, CHP.
  • Freerolls 9/10: You’ll have access to a variety of weekly freerolls at CoinPoker, many of which have larger-than-average prizepools worth up to ₮2,500.

2. Ignition – Best CA Poker Site for Soft Games

  • Poker Network: PaiWangLuo Poker
  • License: Curaçao eGaming
  • Payments Accepted: Fiat and Crypto, including MatchPay, Visa, and BTC

Feature Ratings

Ignition caught my attention because of its cash games, but what else does it have to offer online poker players in California?

  • Poker Games Variety 9/10: Hold’em and Omaha games starting at $0.01/$0.02 form the foundation of Ignition’s poker platform. More variety would be nice, but the games are filled with fishy (weak) players.
  • Poker Tournaments 9/10: Ignition guarantees $2 million in MTT payouts every week, which is plenty of added value. It only falls short of top marks because other CA online poker sites have weekly guarantees topping $10 million.
  • Traffic and Player Base 9/10: There’s always a steady stream of traffic at Ignition, thanks to its casino. The added benefit of players coming from the casino is that most of them aren’t very good at poker.
  • Software Quality 8/10: Ignition’s software is reliable and safe if not a little aesthetically underwhelming.
  • Mobile Friendliness 7/10: Ignition is available on all mobile devices via an optimized site. iOS and Android apps would be nice, but the mobile site is well-designed and offers a full range of games and promotions.
  • Bonuses 8/10: The $3,000 first deposit match is massive, and it’s nice to have a loyalty program as a way of earning extra rewards. It would be nice if Ignition offered rakeback.
  • Freerolls 9/10: Ignition almost gets top marks in this category because it offers freerolls with $2,500 prizepools. The only reason I haven’t given it 10/10 is because the freerolls you have access to are determined by your VIP status.

3. ACR Poker – Best California Poker Site for Tournaments

  • Poker Network: Winning Poker Network
  • License: Costa Rica
  • Payments Accepted: Fiat and Crypto, including credit card, Luxon, and BTC

Feature Ratings

ACR Poker has become my CA online poker site of choice for tournaments, but it has some other unique qualities that make it a great place to play.

  • Poker Games Variety 9/10: ACR caters to the modernists and the purists when it comes to poker variants thanks to its selection of Hold’em, Omaha (including Five-Card Omaha), Stud, and Stud Hi/Lo cash games.
  • Poker Tournaments 10/10: ACR is right up there with the best online poker sites for MTTs because it has over $10 million in weekly guarantees and annual events such as Venom that pay more than $20 million in combined prize money.
  • Traffic and Player Base 10/10: You’ll have the chance to compete against more than 6,000 players at peak times at ACR, which means it’s the busiest online CA poker site.
  • Software Quality 7/10: ACR’s desktop and mobile apps have tons of great features, including bomb pots and the ability to stake players in MTTs. However, it falls short of getting top marks because reliability can sometimes be an issue.
  • Mobile Friendliness 8/10: You get access to a full line-up and games and promotions via the iOS and Android apps. While a lack of an iOS is certainly an issue, security isn’t.
  • Bonuses 9/10: You can choose between loyalty rewards and rakeback at ACR. The loyalty rewards are generous, but 27% rakeback is prime if you’re a high-volume player.
  • Freerolls 10/10: Freerolls Galore isn’t just a nice name for a promotion. ACR has committed to running more freerolls than other online poker sites in California. You’ll be able to play up to eight $50 freerolls every day.

4. Black Chip Poker – Best CA Real Money Online Poker Site for Freerolls

  • Poker Network: Winning Poker Network
  • License: Costa Rica
  • Payments Accepted: Fiat and Crypto, including Visa, P2P, and BTC

Feature Ratings

Black Chip Poker isn’t a carbon copy of its stablemate ACR. It has a lot of unique features, as well as the benefits given to it by the Winning Poker Network.

  • Poker Games Variety 9/10: Sharing a network with ACR means Black Chip is able to offer Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud games ranging from $0.01/$0.02 to $500/$1,000.
  • Poker Tournaments 10/10: Again, thanks to its status as a Winning Poker Network site, Black Chip Poker has an unparalleled weekly MTT schedule that guarantees over $10 million.
  • Traffic and Player Base 9/10: There are plenty of games running 24/7 on Black Chip Poker. The average skill level below $1/$2 ranges from solid to strange. Above that, you can run into competent players grinding out a living.
  • Software Quality 8/10: Run it twice, bomb pots, adjustable table settings, and staking are just some of the impressive features available at Black Chip Poker.
  • Mobile Friendliness 7/10: The only reason Black Chip’s score is slightly lower than it should be in this regard is reliability. Like ACR, server issues sometimes blight the mobile app.
  • Bonuses 9/10: From the $2,000 welcome bonus and referral rewards to its generous 27% rakeback policy, Black Chip is one of the top online poker CA sites when it comes to added value. Things get even better when you start earning perks via the Elite VIP program.
  • Freerolls 10/10: Black Chip runs daily $50 freerolls every three hours, which means you never have to wait long for another shot at free cash.

5. BetOnline – Best California Online Poker Site for Entertainment

  • Poker Network: Chico
  • License: Panama Gaming Commission
  • Payments Accepted: Fiat and crypto, including bank transfer, Visa, and BTC

Feature Ratings

Sports betting might be its forte, but BetOnline has one of the most entertaining poker rooms in California.

  • Poker Games Variety 9/10: It’s not often I give poker sites 9/10 when they don’t offer Stud or Draw games. I can make an exception because BetOnline has 6+ and Pineapple alongside Hold’em and Omaha, variants other CA poker sites don’t.
  • Poker Tournaments 8/10: BetOnline’s flagship tournament series guarantees $3 million, which is a serious amount of money. The weekly schedule isn’t as impressive, though you won’t be short of action if your average buy-in is over $50.
  • Traffic and Player Base 9/10: The sportsbook at BetOnline provides a constant stream of players who are less than adept at poker.
  • Software Quality 9/10: I’ll talk more about BetOnline’s fun features at the end of this guide, but just know that it’s one of the most entertaining sites I’ve tried. What’s more, the software has been refined over the last 20+ years, so it’s incredibly user-friendly.
  • Mobile Friendliness 9/10: Scanning a QR code gives you easy access to fully-stocked Android and iOS apps.
  • Bonuses 8/10: You can’t get rakeback at BetOnline, but the loyalty rewards do give you extra cash based on how active you are. The welcome bonus is also nice because it contains free tournament tickets. Finally, the bad beat jackpot gives you another way to win big.
  • Freerolls 9/10: BetOnline is one of the best online poker sites in California for ticket giveaways. These promotions run in tandem with daily freerolls to make BetOnline a great place to play risk-free poker in California.

Bonuses at California Poker Sites

I can’t talk about how to play online poker in California without bigging up bonuses. Anyone who’s been around poker for a while knows that variance can be a killer.

It’s tough to take when the right moves yield the wrong results. We can’t avoid variance, but we can reduce some of its negative effects with bonuses.

The bonuses below are available at the best online poker sites California has to offer. You should claim as many as you can from these offshore poker sites because they provide guaranteed returns, even when luck isn’t on your side.

Welcome Bonus

Every top-rated California online poker site gives you something extra when you register. That extra something is usually in the form of bonus cash and/or free tournament tickets.

Welcome bonuses that give you both are great. However, if you’re forced to choose (you’re not, as I’ll explain in a moment), bonus cash is often best.

You don’t have to choose between welcome bonuses because there’s nothing stopping you from joining all of the best CA online poker sites. In fact, I’d encourage you to claim as many welcome offers as possible because they’re the biggest bonuses you can get.

No Deposit Bonus

No deposit bonuses, aka sign-up bonuses, are unlocked when you complete the registration process. This means you receive some bonus cash and/or tournament tickets without making a deposit.

Deposit Bonus

A deposit bonus, as you can guess, hinges on a financial transaction. Match deposit bonuses are the most common. These offers give you bonus cash equal to the value of your first deposit.

Other deposit bonuses could be worth 150% or more of your initial deposit. The important thing to take note of with these bonuses is the minimum deposit. The best online poker bonuses in California are triggered when you deposit between $10 and $30. If you’re able, you should deposit the maximum in order to get the most bang for your buck.

Reload Bonus

Reload bonuses are, simply put, deposit bonuses for existing customers.

Reload bonuses are smaller than first deposit bonuses, but they’re an easy way to top up your bankroll. Again, just be mindful of the minimum deposit and the maximum bonus payout.

Tournament Tickets

It may have sounded like I have an aversion to free tournament tickets because I’d rather have bonus cash. That’s not the case. Tournament tickets are great, it’s just that the potential returns are unknown.

Some people like that. BetOnline is big on tournament ticket giveaways, and some of the events you can enter have generous prizepools.

Therefore, if you can make the money or win one of these tournaments, the returns are excellent. However, if you don’t cash in the tournament, it won’t boost your bankroll.

VIP Rewards

VIP rewards when it comes to playing poker online in California often manifest themselves as rakeback. BetOnline does have a more traditional rewards program that gives you bonus cash, tournament tickets, and special prizes.

However, as California online poker sites such as CoinPoker, the amount of rake you contribute to the ecosystem is returned in the form of cash. These rebates are known as rakeback, and, in my opinion, they’re essential if you play online poker for real money in California.

The best rakeback deals return approximately 30% of the rake you pay on a weekly basis. So, if you contributed $1,000 in rake, a 30% rebate would net you $300 in cash. What’s nice about rakeback is that the cash can be withdrawn instantly or used at the tables.

Refer-a-Friend

Sending your friends to the best online poker sites in California gets you bonuses. In fact, if your referrals use your exclusive link/code and complete the wagering requirements, you’ll both receive a bonus.

Most Popular Online Poker Games in CA

There are various ways to play online poker in California for real money. Most of you will know a bit about Texas Hold’em, and while it’s great, it’s not the only game in town.

Here are the main variants you can play at my recommended California online poker sites:

Texas Hold'em
  • Number of hole cards: Two
  • Community cards? Yes
  • Betting options: Limit, Pot Limit, No Limit

Almost every major poker event is Hold’em, so you’ve probably seen this variant during WSOP broadcasts or online streams. The basics of Hold’em are as follows:

  • Everyone receives two hole cards they can use in combination with five community cards.
  • Two antes (the big and small blinds) are posted before any cards are dealt.
  • A pre-flop betting round precedes the first three community cards being dealt.
  • Betting rounds take place after the flop, the turn (fourth community card), and the river (fifth community card).
  • You win pots by having the best five-card hand at showdown or being the last active player.

The appeal of Hold’em, particularly No Limit Hold’em, is the creative lines you can take. Unlike Stud and Draw, where your poker strategy often depends on your cards and math, Hold’em gives you scope to be creative.

As a result, bluffing and value betting are much more common in Hold’em, which is why it’s so popular.

Short Deck Poker (6+)

Fans of Hold’em can play Short Deck (aka 6+) at BetOnline. This spinoff variant has a stripped deck, which means all cards lower than six (5, 4, 3, 2) have been removed, creating a 36-card deck.

Reducing the number of cards in play affects the hand rankings. In 6+, a flush beats a full house. This creates an interesting dynamic that high-stakes pros such as Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan love.

Omaha
  • Number of hole cards: Four
  • Community cards? Yes
  • Betting options: Pot Limit

Omaha is, in many ways, the same as Hold’em. Almost all of the game dynamics I described in the previous section apply to Omaha. However, there are two main differences:

  • Each player receives four hole cards instead of two.
  • You must use two hole cards (you can use both, one, or neither in Hold’em).

These rules mean you have more possible hand combinations. This increases the game’s volatility, which basically means weak hands are easily counterfeited. Therefore, Omaha, as a game, has more action than other poker variants.

Seven-Card Stud
  • Number of hole cards: Seven
  • Community cards? No
  • Betting options: Limit

Poker isn’t always played with community cards. Stud is a classic variant where each player receives their own set of cards. These seven cards are dealt over the course of five betting rounds.

Your job is to make hands from the cards you’re dealt while simultaneously taking note of your opponent’s cards. How is that possible? Because some cards are dealt face-up, and some are dealt face-down.

Here’s how the cards are dealt in Seven-Card Stud:

  • Each player posts an ante bet before any cards are dealt.
  • Everyone receives three cards: two face-down and one face-up.
  • The player with the lowest value face-up card posts another forced bet called the bring-in (5x the size of the ante).
  • Players who complete subsequent betting rounds receive their fourth, fifth, and sixth cards face-up. The seventh is dealt face-down.

Stud is most commonly played as a high-hand game, which means the highest-ranking hand wins a showdown.

However, some of the top online poker real money California sites, such as ACR, have Stud Hi/Lo. This variant awards 50% of the pot to the best high hand and 50% to the best qualifying low hand.

Other Poker Variants

Other poker variants to be aware of are:

  • Five-Card Draw
  • 2-7 Triple Draw
  • Razz
  • Mixed Games

These games aren’t available at the top CA online poker sites. However, you can learn more about them by checking out our how to play poker guide.

Supported Payment Methods at California Poker Sites

Can you play online poker in California for real money? Yes, but only if you know the best ways to make deposits and withdrawals.

There are various ways to move money around the online poker ecosystem in California, and all of them are safe. However, some payment methods are better than others.

Personally, I’m a fintech fan, which is why I recommend modern methods such as Bitcoin and Tether. For the sake of clarity though, I’ll give you a brief overview of the more traditional payment methods first.

Traditional CA Online Poker Payment Methods

Traditional methods use legacy banking protocols to process payments. These processes are tried and tested, so online bank transfers and debit/credit transactions are incredibly safe.

That being said, they’re not the most efficient. This means debit card withdrawals can take up to five days, while bank transfers are often completed within seven days.

Additionally, you might have to pay a small processing fee for bank transfers. None of these things are prohibitive. They’re simply the price you pay for the security of using traditional banking methods.

Modern Ways to Make Online Poker CA Payments

Modern CA online poker payment methods are slicker than their traditional counterparts. They’re slicker because digital protocols allow money to be transferred via the internet more efficiently.

The main methods available when you play online poker in California are:

Prepaid Cards

Purchase a prepaid card at selected retailers or via an online wallet. Each card contains a code you enter at your chosen CA poker site. Funds are deposited instantly, but you can’t use this method for withdrawals.

eWallets

You’ll know how an eWallet works if you’ve used PayPal. Although this method isn’t as readily available in the US as it is in Europe, California poker sites like ACR work with Luxon to offer digital wallet payments.

Cryptocurrencies

The future of online poker in California is cryptocurrencies. I say this because Bitcoin et al. are universal currencies designed for digital transactions.

The decentralized nature of crypto transfers means transactions are processed anonymously in seconds. That’s perfect for security-conscious California online poker players who want instant withdrawals without any fees.

Try CoinPoker if you want a pure crypto poker experience.

Pros and Cons of California Poker Sites

Should you take advantage of what California’s leading online poker sites have to offer, or do the negatives outweigh the positives? Based on everything I’ve found, there are plenty of reasons to ante up at the best Golden State poker sites.

Pros

  • Generous bonuses and up to 33% rakeback
  • Big-money MTTs, including $12 million Venom
  • Cutting-edge software and crypto technology
  • Safe, legal, and fair games
  • Fiat and crypto payments with instant withdrawals

Cons

  • Lack of Draw poker games
  • Mobile apps could be better

How We Rate the Best California Poker Sites

My job is to review online poker sites. Like everyone else, I have my own preferences, but I believe in balance. That’s why I give you honest assessments.

As you can see from my California online poker site reviews, I’ll give you the positives and the negatives. That’s important for me and for CardPlayer as a company.

We pride ourselves on delivering balanced content, even if we have a sponsorship deal with a particular company. That’s why you can trust our reviews.

User Experience at California Poker Sites

I’ve given you some facts about online poker in California and my recommended sites. Before I bring this guide to a conclusion, I want to offer some personal insights.

These are my thoughts and can’t be taken as facts. However, I’ve been playing poker for more than a decade, so I know what works and what doesn’t.

This, combined with the information I’ve already provided, should help make better decisions when it comes to playing online poker for real money in California.

CoinPoker

CoinPoker has been my main site since the start of 2024. I wasn’t sure if a fully blockchain-based poker site would work, but I quickly learned that it does. You might notice that it takes a fraction of a second longer for new hands to appear compared to other online poker sites in California.

That’s because CoinPoker’s random number generator is on a blockchain. The upside of using a different system from other online poker CA sites is that the results of all hands can be verified instantly by anyone. Thus, game integrity is never an issue.

The other major benefit of using CoinPoker, other than 33% rakeback, is the fact it only accepts cryptocurrency. This could be a problem if you’ve never used Bitcoin or any other crypto before. However, if you have, you’ll know that this means you can be anonymous while enjoying instant deposits and withdrawals.

Ignition

If you’re a novice and want to play poker online in California, join Ignition. Of all the California online poker sites I’ve tried, Ignition has the softest games. The main reason you’ll find more fish here than other sites is the platform’s casino.

Gamblers looking for new opportunities often cross over from the casino. Some of them know how to play poker, but most don’t. This makes them easy targets if you’re willing to play a patient, tight-aggressive style of poker.

I’m not a huge fan of the design. Aesthetically, the site is lacking something, and there aren’t that many features. What I do like, however, are the anonymous tables. Being able to play undetected is a great way to avoid scaring off the weak players.

ACR Poker

I had reservations about joining ACR Poker because of the software issues it’s experienced over the years. I needn’t have worried. Although the software runs slightly slower at peak times than non-peak times, I haven’t experienced any major issues with regard to reliability.

That’s a positive because the cash games are some of the best I’ve played. There’s plenty of variety, and, at least when it comes to Omaha, the standard isn’t particularly high. I’m also a fan of the table design. It’s quirky without having too many unnecessary features.

In fact, what’s unique about ACR is its features. As well as bomb pots and the ability to run cash game hands twice, you can stake players in tournaments or ask for staking. This feature is made even better by the fact ACR hosts massive MTTs with prizepools topping $12 million.

Black Chip Poker

I tend to use Black Chip Poker for its rewards rather than anything else. I say that because it shares the Winning Poker Network with ACR, which is currently one of my main poker sites for tournaments.

The benefit of being a stablemate of ACR is that Black Chip has the same selection of cash games, big-money MTTs, and features such as staking and bomb pots. The downside is that it often lives in the shadows of its counterpart.

However, if you’re a fan of loyalty rewards, I recommend Black Chip’s Elite VIP program. It’s one of the best I’ve used in recent years, not least because it’s fairly easy to unlock exclusive prizes if you’re a regular player.

BetOnline

Full disclosure: I originally joined BetOnline for sports betting. However, after discovering that it offered poker, I crossed the void. This turned out to be a good move because I love the software.

The table layout and design aren’t as slick as some California online poker sites. However, I love the little extras like straddles and insurance in cash games. The bad beat jackpot and addition of 6+ Hold’em and Pineapple are also nice touches.

What really makes this one of the most entertaining poker sites in California are throwables. It’s completely unnecessary, but having the option to throw virtual objects at opponents is incredibly fun.

Best Online Poker Site in California – Our Verdict

So, there you have it. That’s how to play online poker in California and get maximum value from your time at the tables.

As I’ve said, there are plenty of legal and safe CA poker sites to choose from. Each one has its own strengths. Your job is to choose the sites that suit your needs.

CoinPoker is my top pick because of its focus on crypto technology, but all of my recommendations have something to offer.

Try them all and see what you think. Then, once you’ve found a few you like, start grinding and have fun.

Expert Opinion

Before you go, here are a few final things to think about before you play poker online in California:

  • Always assess a bonus’s terms and conditions to see if it’s worth claiming.
  • Use CA online poker sites that offer games you like and have plenty of weak players.
  • Try making crypto deposits, even if you’ve never done it before, because they’re safe and anonymous.

If you’re looking to play online poker in California for real money, CoinPoker is absolutely the way to go. In addition to completely safe and anonymous crypto transactions, the 33% rakeback is practically unbeatable in the poker industry. Plus, if PLO is your game, they have the best Omaha poker games in the poker world. – Blaise Bourgeois, CardPlayer poker expert

FAQs

Is online poker legal in California?

Can you play online poker in California?

How do you play online poker in California?

When will online poker be legal in California?