What type of online gambling is legal in California in 2020?

Residents of the Golden State are lucky enough to have plenty of ways to gamble at their fingertips. From cardrooms to racetracks to the state lottery – there are all sorts of ways to enjoy a flutter. But does the online gambling scene match up? At online-gambling.com you can find out how this emerging market is shaping up in California.

While gambling is certainly popular here, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many have been searching online for ways to gamble. Unfortunately, online gambling opportunities are far and few between. That doesn’t mean you can’t use the web to your advantage. One option: online casino games, like slot machines. 

The California State Lottery is a shining example of how online services can be used to make gambling quick, easy and accessible.

California’s Lottery has been going strong since 1984, when it was first brought in via a voter referendum.  A year later the first tickets were sold, and the rest is history! Now the lottery boasts a sleek website and a handy mobile app, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that you could play the California lottery online. That’s not the case, although these online resources are still very useful. 

You can’t buy lottery tickets online, but there are still over 21,000 lottery outlets to choose from. Once you’ve got your hands on a ticket it’s easy to check your numbers online. The lottery website puts up numbers once they’ve been drawn, so you can find it if you’re lucky without leaving your own home.

The mobile app allows you to scan your ticket to check your numbers and to scan 2nd chance codes. It also contains valuable information, such as jackpot amounts, the latest draw results and the location of your nearest lottery retailer.

As sports betting is still illegal in the state of California, there is no legal online sports betting either. This could change, as many US states have slowly brought in sports betting since May 2018, when PASPA was overturned.

However, any gambling aficionados in California who do fancy taking their wagering online can opt for Daily Fantasy Sports. At present there is no legal stance for or against Fantasy Sports and plenty of websites offering bets operate legally in California. Even if you’re unfamiliar with DFS, you may have heard of two of the leading online operators – FanDuel and DraftKings.

Daily Fantasy Sports don’t come under the remit of sports betting because it is all based on imaginary games. Simply build your fantasy team consisting of your favorite real-life sports players, and compete against others in online competitions. Fantasy sports combines the fun of following your favorite teams and players, without having to bet on real sports.

Similarly, online casinos are not legal in California either. While you may find online casinos that accept your cash, these are usually unlicensed and unregulated and you could find yourself caught in a scam. For casino games, Californians will simply have to wait until lockdown restrictions are eased.