Blackjack is one of the oldest and most popular card games in the United States. In the state of California, there are thousands of active casino tables that offer blackjack, so it’s no surprise that the online market for 21 is booming and more people than ever are interested in doubling down over the Internet.
- Online Blackjack California Casino
- Online Blackjack California Lottery
- Can You Play Online Blackjack In California
Below, we will provide you with the details you need to comfortably play blackjack online at safe and secure casino sites. We will dive into the federal and state laws of gambling on the Internet and the international implications that those laws have on the websites that offer US-facing casino options.
However, online blackjack players using even the most basic strategy have more of an edge than in any other house casino game because of the odds inherent in the planned approach. Basic strategy is a. .22, also known as California Blackjack, is a player-banked loophole to 21 card game bans in CA where California casinos allow gamblers to build hands up to 22. Online Blackjack For 18+ Players Online blackjack sites provide 24/7 access to games that physical casinos cannot. Currently, California’s laws on online casinos are unclear. You won’t be prosecuted for betting on slots at offshore gambling sites, but you can’t open and run an online casino in the Golden State.
We have been in the industry of online gambling as fans and gamblers for over 20 years, and our team of specialists have personally vetted and verified every website that we recommend to you in this guide. You will find a similar guide dedicated to informing you about California online slots betting.
Is It Legal To Play Online Blackjack in California?
Yes! There are no CA gambling laws or federal US gambling laws that prevent Golden State residents from playing real money 21 over the Internet with offshore casinos. That said, you should always use a legally sanctioned offshore blackjack site that is licensed properly within its jurisdiction and geographic location.
Proper regulation is key to ensuring fair play and financial security when engaged in licensed California online casino betting. All of the casinos you see listed in this guide are operating legally within the industry, and each has the proper licensing and compliance credentials.
Top Rated Offshore California Casinos For Playing Online Blackjack
Here, we have listed our favorite online destinations for playing 21. We have compiled this short list over the course of the last 20 years as enthusiasts of the online gambling entertainment industry. These sites are all compliance certified and located outside of the United States.
We have doubled down and tripled checked these site's regulatory oversight commissions and have made sure that they all operate within legal and licensed jurisdictions. These are our favorite online blackjack sites, and they each offer dozens of video blackjack games, and most also include live dealer blackjack tables for that human touch. Still, 'hit me' is never to be taken literally!
Casino Name | Bonus Offer | CA Accepted? | Play Now |
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Bovada Casino | 100% Up To $3,000 | Visit Site | |
Slots.lv Casino | 100% Up To $5,000 | Visit Site | |
Cafe Casino | 500% Up To $5,000 | Visit Site | |
Sun Palace | 400% Up To $10,000 | Visit Site |
California Online Blackjack Betting FAQs
What Federal Laws Impact Online Blackjack Betting in California?
Technically, there are two federal gambling laws that impact online casinos and blackjack options, but neither of them actually makes playing real money online 21 illegal.
The Federal Wire Act 1961 was clarified in 2011 (and upheld in 2020) to only pertain to US-based sports betting.
The scary-sounding Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA, 2006) doesn’t make online casino gambling illegal in any way, it just adds a penalty structure for fining those banking institutions that knowingly process payments to and from non-US-regulated Internet gambling sites.
Neither law applies to individual players, so you can enjoy legal online blackjack from any reputable offshore casino operator like those listed here.
Will California Legalize Online Casino Betting For Real Money Anytime Soon?
The reason there are no Internet gambling websites that are located within CA is because California has not yet taken steps to regulate them. It is up to each individual state to determine their own destiny regarding online casino gambling, including playing blackjack online.
The topic of online gambling has been actively discussed in California, but primarily in relation to online poker. Due to consistent conflict between online poker proponents and tribal gambling business owners, nothing has yet come to fruition.
If online poker ever does actually become legal in the Golden State, then CA online casinos – and hence California online blackjack betting – will probably not be too far behind.
Are There Blackjack Bonuses and Promotions For California Players?
Yes! When you join an online casino, you will get access to casino welcome bonuses (and, often, casino reload bonuses). These online casino bonus options match your deposits by a specific percentage up to a designated maximum amount.
For example, you may see a 21 bonus that looks like this: 50% match up to $500. In this bonus, the casino is agreeing to match half of your deposit up to a maximum of $500. In other words, if you deposit $1000, you'll get $1500 with which to play online blackjack and other online casino games.
Note: At most sites, playing virtual blackjack (that is, video blackjack titles) will apply to your bonus rollover requirements at a rate of 10% to 20%. Live dealer blackjack does not usually contribute to your bonus playthrough, so please be sure to read all relevant terms and conditions before accepting any BJ bonus offered.
What Variations of Blackjack Can California Residents Play Online?
Over the hundreds of years of play, the game of twenty-one has developed into multiple versions. On the Internet, you can find the largest possible selection of different kinds of 21. The game is normally played with 6 to 8 decks in a 'shoe' to prevent card counting, but you can also find games that use just a single deck as well as double and triple deck games.
There are other slight changes to the game that have allowed for specialty bets like Bovada’s “Perfect Pairs” that reward your luck for being blessed with a particular pair of cards that match. There is another specialty version called Zappit Blackjack commonly found as well. Zappit will allow you to “zap” your hand and exchange your cards if they add up to 15, 16, or 17. The specific BJ games found in the menus at our recommended sites vary from brand to brand.
Are Online Blackjack Games Fair?
Each website that is recommended here is compliance certified through third-party watchdogs, and all games of online 21 use vetted Random Number Generation (RNG) software made by the top developers in the world, like Realtime Gaming, Betsoft, and Microgaming. These brands also make the video blackjack terminals you find in regulated domestic brick-and-mortar California casinos.
RNGs are computer algorithms that are programmed to ensure statistical randomness and fair play for the common fan. The best casino websites contract with top-class companies that don’t have any connection to the gambling websites themselves to test the algorithms objectively for appropriate levels of randomness and fair play guidelines. All of our recommended blackjack sites are regularly audited and proudly display their compliance certificates.
Can I Play Blackjack For Free?
Not only are you able to play blackjack online for free, but we actually recommend it. Free online blackjack is the best way to become acclimated to the game’s interface for new players, to see how you like the environment at the casino you are visiting, and to test out your best blackjack betting strategy, all without risking a single penny.
If you are playing at a casino you’ve never played at before, we strongly suggest that you enjoy some free play 21 before you make a deposit into your account. Not all sites offer free blackjack, but most do as a way to let their customers play 'demos' of their award-winning online blackjack games.
Can I Play Blackjack From My Mobile Phone?
The responsive mobile technology used by each of the best online California casinos will redirect you to their mobile enhanced interfaces for on-the-go play. From your smartphone or tablet, you can access your account to make deposits, request casino payouts, and play any of your favorite games, including real money blackjack online.
Best of all, you don't need any iPhone blackjack apps or Android blackjack apps to enjoy the experience. All you need is a modern smartphone, an up-to-date web browser, and an account at any site listed here. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can play blackjack for real money from anywhere in the Golden State, any time you please.
On this page, we’ve compiled an in-depth summary of the current state of online gambling in CA, touching on various topics from the legality of gambling in the state to current regulatory debates. We’ve also compiled a list of safe and secure online casinos for California residents that you can view below, which have all been in business for 10+ years with no issues. If you’re looking for a legal, safe, and trusted California online casinos, you’re in luck!
What Are the Top Real Money Online Casinos in California?
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California is known for being a trendsetter when it comes to most industries in the United States. It’s no surprise that legalized online gambling in California has grown far ahead of many other locations in the United States.
Why These CA Online Casinos Are The Best
They Offer Legal, Trusted Gambling Games to Residents and Visitors
The entire reason you’re probably here is to figure out which online casinos offer services to California residents. You’ve probably heard mixed answers about the legality of online gambling in California and, therefore, are not sure where you can and cannot play.
Because of that, the number one trait that makes California online casinos great is simply the fact that they offer services to California residents and visitors!
They Offer Games Californians Love to Play
What good is an online casino if it doesn’t have the games that Californians love to play? We’ll answer that question for you—it’s no good at all. The California online casinos that we’ve recommended offer an extremely wide variety of games, including favorites like blackjack, craps, roulette, three card poker, keno, slot machines, pai gow, sic bo, and more! If you’re looking for an easy way to play your favorite gambling games for real money in California, check out one of the recommended online casinos from the up-to-date list at the top of the page.
They Have Banking Options That Work Fast
Not every banking option works everywhere in the world. There are specific banking options that work better and faster for California residents. When we’re analyzing the quality of California online casinos, we ensure that they have several high-quality online casino banking options that work great for Californians.
While we don’t need tons of options, we do want to see at least a couple of great deposit options and a couple of great withdrawal options. You’re only going to need one, but we want options just so you have a better chance of seeing an option that is a great fit for you.
The Ultimate in Convenience
The entire point of using online casino sites is to provide convenience. California is an extremely spread out state in some areas, which means you may be hundreds of miles from the closest land-based casino. Additionally, that land-based casino might not offer the games you want to play. This is where online casinos come in. The idea of an online casino is to solve these problems and bring convenience to players across the state.
But this convenience goes away if the online gambling site doesn’t set things up properly. It should be super simple for you to create an account, make a deposit, find the games you like, play, and withdraw your winnings. If any of these things aren’t super simple, we’re not interested in the site and you won’t see those California online casinos recommended on this page.
Is Online Gambling Legal in California?
These days, the United States is one of the more confusing countries in the world when it comes to online gambling laws, with dozens of states having different rules and nuances of how they treat the topic. When it comes to California, it is perhaps the unique exception. There are currently no specific regulations that explicitly prohibit online gambling for residents of the state.
Because of this, Californians have little worry when it comes to playing online casino games, and currently, there are a number of trustworthy sites offering online casino games, sports betting, and poker across the state.
Unlike the state lottery, casinos that operate online are not subject to any sort of government scrutiny and, in many ways, can operate without fear of legal ramifications. For this reason, many bills have been proposed with the end goal of legalizing and regulating the online casino industry in the state.
Up to this point, however, any and all legislation aimed at legalizing and regulating online casinos has either stalled or has been flat-out rejected.
What Does This Mean for You?
There are two important takeaways you should get from this. One, it is not illegal for you to gamble online in California. You are free to play the games you want for real money without fear of negative repercussions. Two, the market is unregulated, which means that you will not have some of the added protections and oversight you would get in a regulated market.
This makes it that much more important that you choose to gamble online in California. The good news for you is that casinos make a lot of money. For them to continue making money, they have to continue having happy customers that are getting the entertainment value they desire. If they are not operating reputably and taking care of their customers, word will get out, and their cash cow is going to dry up. This places a huge incentive for online casinos in California to do things the right way as if they were being regulated.
Still, not every online casino follows that mindset. There are some California online casinos that only look at the short term and don’t care about their long-term sustainability. Because of this, it is also important that you take advantage of resources like this site to help you determine where the best casinos online are. If you want to ensure you’re betting with one of these reputable sites, stick to the recommended list we’ve provided at the top of the page.
The Future of Online Gambling in California
Despite what has been a mostly fruitless endeavor up to this point, experts believe that California is one of the next states that will establish legalized intrastate online casinos. Each year, it seems as though a larger number of bills for the complete and total legalization and regulation of online casinos gets put into circulation.
It is only a matter of time until one of them is signed into law. With that being said, online gambling sites are what many would consider to be the least of California’s governmental problems. With almost constant drought, severe debt, and many other issues on hand, it becomes difficult for activists to convince politicians and voters alike that establishing an online casino network is something that should be done soon. Many efforts have been made, and only few have succeeded.
The fact that the California government does not oversee them does not mean that the California online casinos which offer their games are not trustworthy. These casinos are regulated abroad and most are very reliable; you just have to sign up with time-tested ones with stellar reputations. To help you with choosing a legal CA online casino to play at, we have reviewed and researched dozens and recommend the best online casinos for California residents at the top of the page.
Legal Status of Brick and Mortar Casinos — California
In California, there are plenty of brick-and-mortar locations all over the state. One thing that all of these casinos have in common, however, is that they are all Native American-run and almost always located on Native American land. This sounds like a rather conservative policy for an otherwise liberal state, but the wider scope of gambling and casinos in California is not as restrictive as it may first appear. Of course, this all depends on where you reside in the United States.
The land-based casinos in California usually offer all the classic favorites such as slots, roulette, keno, baccarat, blackjack and the like.
Online Blackjack California Casino
Card rooms—as they are known in California—number in the tens of dozens and seem to be growing in number all the time. Poker is the dominant offering of California’s card rooms, however, blackjack variants and other more obscure games can be found being played as well. Basically, so long as the game is centered around playing cards, the rule of thumb is that it can likely be found at a card room. Naturally, some card rooms are better than others, and thus, the offering of one card room is never equal to that of another.
Additionally, if you play non-poker, gambling-type games in one of these card rooms, you’ll notice that the “bank” or who you are playing against will actually be another player at the table who is being paid to be there. It’s a confusing system and clearly a workaround for the state laws, but the outcome is the same. You are able to play your favorite games without fear of negative repercussions.
There are brick and mortar, Native American-run casinos all over the state, however, online gambling is still the easiest way to play any and all casino games at any time of day. When it comes down to it, someone who is looking to play casino games in California will either have to do so at CA online casinos or on Native American land. As you might have guessed, this predicament means that online casino play in California is quite widespread. It’s this common knowledge that is driving the push to legalize and regulate real money online casinos.
In recent years, pro-casino activists have lobbied politicians to promote and/or vote for bills to expand the way in which Californians can gamble at brick-and-mortar sites, but most of those efforts have so far been for naught. This is interesting, too, because California is historically one of the more liberal states in the country. Some of the largest land-based casinos currently operating in California include the following:
Local California Land Based Casinos
Casino | Address | Phone |
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Pechanga Resort & Casino | 45000 Pechanga Parkway | (877) 7112-WIN |
Cache Creek Casino | 14455 CA-16 | (800) 452-8181 |
San Manuel Casino | 777 San Manuel Blvd | (800) 359-2464 |
Thunder Valley Casino | 1200 Athens Avenue | (916) 408-7777 |
Viejas Casino & Turf Club | 5000 Willows Road | (800) 847-6537 |
Morongo Casino Resort | 49750 Seminole Drive | (800) 252-4499 |
Pala Casino Resort | 11154 Highway 76 | (877) 946-7252 |
Red Hawk Casino | 1 Red Hawk Boulevard | (888) 573-3495 |
Barona Casino & Resort | 1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd | (888) 722-7662 |
Table Mountain Casino | 8184 Table Mountain Rd | (800) 541-3637 |
California Online Casinos and Gambling FAQ
- Abbreviation: CA
- State Motto: Eureka
- Capital City: Sacramento
- Population Estimate: 39.5 million (1st)
- Website: https://www.ca.gov/
Online Blackjack California Lottery
If you know that there exists no framework for regulated and legalized online casino play in California, you might be wondering how anyone is able to trust the many sites that offer their services in the state. The fact of the matter is that, while you may not be able to take an online casino to court in California, a small bit of due diligence will lead you to trustworthy, reputable online casinos in California. Plenty of well-respected names in the online casino industry operate in CA, and these are names that can be trusted.Can You Play Online Blackjack In California
Most notably, the online casinos we recommend for California residents have all been operating for many years and have strong reputations to defend. In case of issues, they will resolve them immediately so that their stellar reputations are not sullied. These online casinos also use time-tested technology and reputable casino games, therefore, you can be sure that if you decide to make a deposit in one of these casinos, your depositing process will be safe and secure and the games you will play will be fair and give you an honest chance to win money!