Legal 18+ Gambling Guide for California: Where to Go?

If you’ve just recently become a legal adult, you might wonder where you can go to gamble as an 18-year-old in California. Unlike in some other states, there are many 18+ casinos in California. The same goes for any online gambling apps.

That’s because the legal gambling age in California is 18.

So, yes, if you’ve just recently become a legal adult, you can gamble in California.

Many California Indian casinos will let you gamble when you turn 18 years old. You can also use many online gambling apps, including promotional sweepstakes sites, daily fantasy sports, and horse betting. Notably, nobody can use California sports betting apps because they’re not legal.

Below, we review all the best casino options for 18 and over gambling in California. Ever wonder, Is there an 18+ casino near me? We’ve got that answer for you with a full list of 18+ California Indian casinos, plus casino promotions and bonus codes for the best free online casino and online poker sites you can play in CA.

Online Casinos in California: Gambling Options for 18+

You cannot gamble at real-money California online casinos or poker sites. Because they don’t exist.

Luckily for anyone 18 and older, online casino games still exist because promotional sweepstakes casino and poker sites are 100% legal in California. Why? Because you play with fake digital coins that you can later redeem for cash prizes.

So, yes, even though you can win money on these sites, the coins you actually gamble with have no real-world value.

Here are the best social California online casinos and poker sites for 18+ gamblers in California, as well as our exclusive casino bonuses and promo codes to start your wagering.

Legal Gambling in California for 18+

When it comes to social casinos, no one does it better than Chumba Casino. It offers online gaming lovers a high-quality platform that has all the same refinements and user experience as a real-money online casino.

Chumba currently has 142 slot games, three blackjack games, and Jacks or Better video poker.

Chumba also offers an app (although it’s a lite version we wouldn’t recommend using), so it’s a mobile casino. And the best part is you don’t have to spend any money to play, so you can play free slots.

With our Chumba Casino bonus codes, you get a $30 Gold Coin offer for $10 that comes with 30 FREE Sweeps Coins. Plus you get two 2 FREE Sweeps Coins and 2,000,000 FREE Gold Coins on sign-up as your welcome bonus. That $30 Gold Coin offer for $10 includes 10,000,000 Gold Coins to make your plays and spins.

If you don’t have an 18+ casino near you in California, Chumba Casino provides one of the best casino site experiences in the US.

Although it doesn’t offer the most games among US social casinos, LuckyLand Slots does probably have the best variety in its 96 total online casino games.

First, its 81 slots games are second to none in terms of graphics and user experience. It also has 11 virtual scratch-offs, just like the kind you’d buy at a gas station. Then, LuckyLand also has a lottery-like game, blackjack, a pachinko game, and an instant-win game that’s similar to roulette.

With our exclusive LuckyLand Slots Casino bonus codes, you can get 10 FREE Sweeps Coins and 7,777 FREE Gold Coins on sign-up. This is a no-purchase bonus, which, for those only familiar with real-money casino terms, is similar to a no-deposit bonus. You can also get $10 worth of Gold Coins and 10 more FREE SC with a $4.99 first-time purchase.

This is one of the best online casino promotions in California.

For any 18-and-over California gambler seeking great social online slots, LuckyLand is an excellent option.

Many will argue Pulsz is the best overall legal online casino in California. It features 400 games you can play online, including some of the best slots in the industry like progressive jackpots, Megaways, and Spin & Wins, as well as one Texas hold’em game and a multihand blackjack game it just released — all similar to in-person versions you’d find at a Vegas casino.

The only significant notable exceptions are craps, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and video poker.

Pulsz also offers an app on both iOS and Android devices, so it’s a mobile casino. It’s the only 18+ social casino in California with an app in both the App Store and the Google Play Store.

It’s also super easy to sign up for Pulsz through Facebook or Gmail. If you use our exclusive Pulsz Casino promo code, you’ll get 2.30 Sweepstakes Coins free. You’ll also have the option for a first-purchase bonus that will net you 15 or 30 Sweepstakes Coins. This is similar to a deposit bonus at a real-money online casino.

Pulsz is an excellent legal gambling option in California, and it boasts one of the top online casino bonuses.

You can play poker for winnings you can redeem for cash prizes online with Global Poker. This promotional sweepstakes site has Texas hold’em and Omaha hold’em as its main staple poker games.

As it’s the best sweepstakes and social poker site by a wide margin, traffic is rarely an issue on Global Poker. Tournaments are offered either daily or weekly, but Sit’N’Go games are the most common.

Global Poker also now offers 31 slot games and a handful of table games, including blackjack, Caribbean poker, and casino hold’em.

Use our exclusive Global Poker bonus code FLUSH to get your 150,000 GC for $10 + 30 FREE SC on sign-up. If you want an extra purchase bonus, you can also get a $40 GC offer for $20 that comes with 40 FREE SC. (No code needed for that second bonus.)

Adding to the list of online casinos is Funzpoints, a promotional sweepstakes site with 69 slots and Keno. In Standard mode, you just play for fun. You win fake digital currency, Standard Points, in this mode and none of your winnings can be redeemed for cash prizes.

Premium mode, meanwhile, allows players to play online with and win Premium Points. Those points can be redeemed for cash prizes.

There are 70 games to choose from. You start off with 18 and can unlock more gaming options the more you play casino games or make purchases, making this an intriguing options for 18-year-old gamblers in California. Funzpoints is also unique in that players get free spins on the prize wheel every three hours.

Use our exclusive Funzpoints Casino promo code to get your free 250 Premium Points and place your first bets.

Fliff is a promotional sweepstakes sportsbook. That means, no, you don’t bet with real money. But you can redeem Fliff Cash for cash prizes.

So, is Fliff the same as a real-money online sportsbook like DraftKings California? No. Can you win real money using it? Yes. Is it the best legal option for Californians until traditional sports betting is allowed in the state? Yes again.

Using our Fliff promo code: SHARP will get you a 100% match bonus up to $100 Fliff Cash + 600,000 Fliff Coins on purchase. This is kind of like a deposit bonus in real-money sportsbooks.

B Spot offers a truly unique way to win real money playing online casino games.

Most online casinos use random number generators to determine if a player wins a slot game and how much they win. Instead, b spot uses a randomly selected group of horse race bets to determine winnings, and simply uses the casino games as a way to reveal how much the gambler won.

Thus, it combines horse racing betting and online casinos into a one-of-a-kind racino.

However, only customers 21 and over can play with real money. Only the free, for-fun version is available for customers 18-20.

Full List of 18 and Over Casinos in California Near You

The legal gambling age in California is 18 years old on all land under California jurisdiction. Technically, Indian casinos operate on reservation land so they don’t have to abide by CA law. But most do.

As of February 2023, 16 Indian casinos in California allow 18-and-over gamblers. That list includes 15 of the 66 Class III casinos (which are what most people refer to when discussing California Indian casinos) and one Class II casino.

The rest require patrons to be 21. This is because some Indian casinos serve alcohol on their gambling floors. So the 21-year-old requirement is to prevent anyone younger than that from drinking, not to curb 18-year-old CA gambling.

So, before you head out to Indian casinos in California if you’re 18, be sure to double-check and verify you can actually enter that casino. Below, we’ll break down all the top 18-year-old casinos you can enjoy in California — a lot are centered in and around San Diego and Southern California.

California Indian casinos offer all the same types of games and casino promotions you’d find at a Vegas casino.

Best 18+ Casinos in Southern California

Southern California casinos are mostly concentrated around Los Angeles, Fresno, and San Diego. They also include plenty of spas to take advantage of the typically relaxing, sunny Southern California ambiance.

Additionally, many of the best casinos feature entertainment venues reflecting a focus on the show business industry. These venues often utilize iconography or themes that draw from Hollywood or other iconic neighborhoods.

Here are brief casino reviews for the seven 18+ casinos in Southern California:

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa

49500 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA 92230

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa casino is a perfect choice if you want to mix some spa time with your gambling activities. It’s very close to Palm Springs and has 150,000 square feet in total with 4,000 slot machines and 80 table games. It also includes a poker room and 20 reservable poker tables for private games, plus a variety of spa and resort amenities like massage services and pool access.

Barona Resort & Casino

1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040

One of the largest California casinos in terms of gaming space, Barona Resort & Casino offers 2,200 slot machines, 65 table games, and 340,000 square feet of gaming space. The casino resort also has a 400-room hotel and 12 restaurants to enjoy. It’s located 21 miles northeast of downtown San Diego.

Casino Pauma

777 Pauma Reservation Rd, Pauma Valley, CA 92061

Just 20 miles south of Temecula and 50 miles north of San Diego sits Casino Pauma, an 18+ gambling option for those who can’t go to nearby Pechanga Resort Casino, which isn’t 18+. Casino Pauma offers 35,000 square feet of gaming space, filled with 1,050 slot machines and 23 table games. There’s also Pauma Pavilion, an entertainment venue that can accommodate 1,160 guests.

Golden Acorn Casino & Travel Center

1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo, CA 91906

Headed down to Mexico? About a 40-minute drive to the Mexico border, Golden Acorn Casino & Travel Center features more than 350 slot machines, ranging from penny slots to high-limit games. There are two restaurants and a bar, as well as a 3,000-square-foot travel center and gas station, making the casino especially appealing to truck drivers looking for a break from their long hauls. It’s located about 60 miles southeast of San Diego.

Viejas Casino & Resort

5000 Willows Rd, Alpine, CA 91901

Located 32 miles east of downtown San Diego, Viejas Casino & Resort provides a quick getaway gambling trip for those visiting America’s Finest City. The casino’s 18+ gamblers are only allowed in the Viejas Bingo & Slot Parlor, which, as the name suggests, offers guests bingo and slots. The casino resort has 362 rooms and suites spread across two hotels, as well as seven eateries and bars.

Eagle Mountain Casino

681 S Reservation Rd, Porterville, CA 93257

Situated between Fresno and Bakersfield along the edge of the Sequoia National Forest, Eagle Mountain Casino features 1,200 slots, 11 table games, 70,000 square feet of gaming space, a 450-seat bingo hall, a buffet, a steakhouse, and a food court. A new Eagle Mountain Casino is set to open in early 2023. It will offer guests 1,750 slots, 20 table games, and a 1,700-seat entertainment venue.

Tachi Palace Casino Resort

17225 Jersey Ave, Lemoore, CA 93245

About 33 miles south of Fresno sits Tachi Palace Casino Resort, which features a massive 18+ bingo hall, Yokut Hall, that has bingo games starting at 6:25 p.m. every day except Sunday and Monday. Interested 18-and-over gamblers are also allowed at the casino’s adjacent gas station, Yokut Gas, which has 30 slot machines in a 3,000-square-foot convenience store.

Best 18+ Casinos in Northern California

Northern California casinos are usually based around Sacramento or San Francisco — the two largest metropolitan areas in the top half of the state. These resorts run from large to very small, featuring diverse themes and lots of different gambling activities that range from slot machines to lottery games to blackjack and other electronic games.

Here are brief casino reviews for the nine 18+ casinos in Northern California:

Table Mountain Casino Resort

777 Jackpot Lane, Friant, CA 93626

Just 20 miles north of Fresno, Table Mountain Casino Resort just opened July 21, 2022. It features 600,000 square feet of space, including a 110,000-square-foot gaming floor that includes 2,000 slots, 33 table games, and a high-limit room. There is 50% more gaming space than the previous Table Mountain Casino, which sits 900 feet down the road. There is also a 12-story hotel, eight dining options, and a 2,000-seat event center.

Although it is in the process of acquiring a liquor license, Table Mountain is expected to remain 18+.

Lucky Bear Casino

12510 CA-96, Hoopa, CA 95546

A smaller tribal casino totaling 5,000 square feet, Lucky Bear is one of the northernmost casinos in California. It’s nestled in the beautiful mountains and features 100 slot machines, blackjack, and poker varieties. It’s an ideal place to gamble and relax while touring the Northern California wilderness or road-tripping up the coast. It’s a non-smoking casino.

Chicken Ranch Casino

16929 Chicken Ranch Rd, Jamestown, CA 95327

Located 45 miles west of Yosemite National Park, Chicken Ranch Casino offers guests 600 slot machines, nine table games, a 900-seat bingo hall, and 30,000 square feet of gaming space. The current casino will be replaced in 2024 by a new casino resort with a 190-room hotel and a 9,600-square-foot convention center. This is a perfect place to come have some casino fun before or after a trip to beautiful Yosemite.

Gold Country Casino Resort

4020 Olive Hwy, Oroville, CA 95966

Roughly 70 miles north of Sacramento sits Gold Country Casino Resort, owned by the Tyme Maidu Tribe of the Berry Creek Rancheria. It offers guests 600 slot machines and 27 gaming tables, including progressive jackpots in tre card stud and pai gow. There’s also a non-smoking slots section, as well as an 87-room hotel, an RV park, two restaurants, two bars, a coffee shop, and an event center as part of the casino resort.

Coyote Valley Casino

77 Coyote Valley Blvd, Redwood Valley, CA 95470

Next to the Coyote Valley Casino sits the Coyote Valley Gasino, which has a convenience store, gas station, smoke shop, and an 18+ slots room. This is where 18-and-over patrons are allowed to gamble. Situated 122 miles north of San Francisco, the Coyote Valley Gasino slots room is non-smoking.

Red Fox Casino

200 Cahto Dr, Laytonville, CA 95454

Up near the Northern California coastline, 180 miles northwest of Sacramento and 65 miles west of the Mendocino National Forest, Red Fox Casino offers guests 91 slot machines and a cafe. It’s a perfect pitstop for gamblers traveling up the coast in Northern California, and there’s a cafe open from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. as well.

Bear River Casino

10 Bear Paws Way, Loleta, CA 95551

Bear River Casino is just 14 miles south of Eureka and 20 minutes from the beach. It’s a beautiful place to stay, and one of nine Northern California casinos that allow 18-year-olds. However, those 18-year-olds are only allowed to gamble at the casino’s gas station, Bear River Pump & Play.

Blue Lake Casino Hotel

777 Casino Way, Blue Lake, CA 95525

Situated in a picturesque valley 16 miles northeast of Eureka, Blue Lake Casino allows 18+ gamblers at its gas station, Playstation 777. It’s right next to the casino hotel, and it features more than 30 slot machines.

Winnedumah Winn’s Casino

135 US-395, Independence, CA 93526

Winnedumah Winn’s Casino is a Class II gaming facility attached to the Fort Independence Travel Plaza along US Highway 395, east of Kings Canyon National Park. As a Class II casino, it can only offer slot machines based on bingo. It has 100 such slot machines for gamblers 18 and over.

Online Poker in California 18+

It is completely legal for adults 18 and over to play online poker in California for a chance to win real money.

How? Through the leading social poker site in the US, Global Poker. Like all social casinos, Global Poker has players use two types of fake digital currency, and one type is redeemable for cash prizes.

So, no, Global Poker isn’t quite the same as real-money online poker. But for 18+ gamblers in California, it’s the only legal option. And it really is darn close. It offers several variations of poker, including Texas hold’em and Omaha hold’em, and all kinds of tournaments with low stakes and high stakes.

Live Poker in California 18+

There is only one 18+ Indian casino that has a poker room and allows 18-year-olds to play.

That casino? Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, which has a 20-table poker room that features six 55-inch flatscreen TVs. There are daily promotions, as well as promotions tied to NFL football.

There are also 59 active California card rooms offering poker throughout the state. However, these establishments don’t allow 18-year-olds and are 21+ locations.

Other 18+ Gambling in California

California horse betting is also legal for any adult 18 and over. You can wager in-person at any of the four racetracks in the state — Los Alamitos Race Course, Santa Anita Park, Del Mar Racetrack, and Golden Gate Fields. You can also bet on other horse races across the world from these racetracks, or via horse betting apps such as TVG Horse Racing.

Adults 18 and over in California can also play daily fantasy sports using any of the California DFS sites, such as DraftKings DFS, FanDuel DFS, Monkey Knife Fight, or Jock MKT.

You’ll also be able to enjoy tons of sports lineups and activities, ranging from major leagues like the NFL or NBA to women’s leagues or international soccer. The apps even have some options for esports.

If you’re looking to bet on sports, yes, there is a legal option for that, too. Fliff uses the promotional sweepstakes model. So, even though you can redeem certain digital currency for cash prizes, that currency itself has no real-world value. Hello, legality.

And, of course, anyone 18 or older in California can play the California Lottery. The state lottery offers a variety of games to play, including all kinds of scratchers, MEGA Millions, Fantasy 5, Super Lotto Plus, and Daily Derby. You have to purchase tickets in-person, but you can submit for Second Chance promotions online.

Why Are Some California Casinos 18+?

The answer mainly comes down to alcohol. Because the legal gambling age in California is actually 18.

But if a California Indian casino serves alcohol on the gaming floor, it will more than likely be a 21-and-over casino, because the legal drinking age is 21. Casinos aren’t going to open themselves up to lawsuits by accidentally serving an underage drinker, so most of the 66 Indians casinos in California only allow patrons 21 and older.

Overall, 16 California casinos currently allow 18-year-olds to gamble.

Five of those casinos, however, have restrictions on where those 18-year-olds can gamble. At Viejas Casino & Resort, near San Diego, for instance, the only 18+ section is the Viejas Bingo & Slot Parlor. At Tachi Palace Casino Resort, only the bingo hall, Yokut Hall, and adjacent gas station, Yokut Gas, allow 18-year-olds.

Below are some of the most commonly searched California casinos in regards to their legal gambling age.

Morongo Casino Age Limit

The age limit at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa is 18. If you are 18 or older, you can partake in any gambling at Morongo Casino. It is the third-largest casino in California, based on number of slot machines, and the largest 18+ casino in California.

San Manuel Casino Age Limit

For a time, the age limit at San Manuel Casino (now Yaamava’ Resort & Casino) was 18. However, the current age limit is 21. Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is the largest casino in California and on the West Coast.

Pala Casino Age Limit

The age limit at Pala Casino Spa Resort is 21.

Pechanga Casino Age Limit

The age limit at Pechanga Resort Casino is 21. It is the second-largest casino in California.

18+ Casinos in California FAQs