California has more card rooms than any other state, even Las Vegas. All of the California card rooms listed here are legal places to play poker games, including, of course, the popular Texas Hold ‘em.
California’s card rooms are under the Gambling Control Act that created the California Gambling Control Commission which administers the state's laws regarding gambling, casinos, and poker. Located in Sacramento, the current commission has three members who issue licenses, establish regulations, set policies and have jurisdiction over basically anything gaming related in the state. They work with the Division of Gambling Control, an arm of the Office of the Attorney General. The Division of Gambling Control provides minimum and uniform regulation of the states’ card rooms.
What You Can Play at California Card Rooms
You can legally play a number of poker games including Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud, and Texas Hold’em Limit games, and No-Limit Games. The stakes vary and can be substantial in some of the big, popular Los Angeles area card rooms.
The following pages contain listing of card rooms in Southern, Central and Northern California. These card rooms are not casinos, although several use the word casino in their names. Be aware that only poker variations are played at these card rooms. Blackjack, other table games, craps, roulette and slots are not allowed in California card rooms.
Per California law, there is no smoking in the card rooms.
