After several years of pushing and pulling, online gamers are still wondering if online poker will ever be legalized in California. But, according to experts, optimism is low, leaning in favor of it being highly unlikely.

After years of fruitless efforts, the Californian government is still digging its heels in the stand when it comes to legalizing online poker in the state. This means that no relief is in sight for Californian poker players, who can either choose to play at unregulated sites or not at all.

California Online Poker Legislation

Currently, the online gambling laws in California fall into the same grey area as most of the other US states. This means that, while there are no laws that explicitly state it is illegal to play poker online, there are no laws that make it legal either. Poker has always been the darling of the US gambling industry, but never managed to reach its full potential thanks to the blurred online gambling laws of the United States. From the time online poker was introduced in the 1990s, US players have been playing real money online poker regardless of the laws.

It is a common understanding that, while online gambling is not considered legal in the United States, the government is not really interested in charging online pokers players. This means that, as long as players can find an online poker room that accepts your play and is safe and secure, most players are happy to go ahead and make real money bets regardless of the legalities. And while these laws regarding online gaming could change at any time, Californian players’ main challenge is finding a safe, secure and regulated place to play online that accepts US players.

So, if Californian players can technically play poker online, where is there still a push to make it legal? Basically, legalizing online poker legitimizes it, which means players can play at regulated sites without having to worry about safety and security. If laws are passed legalizing online poker, many players who have not tried online poker before will feel more comfortable giving it a go. Legalization will also make it much easier to move money for online transactions.
Is Optimism Waning?

In 2016, Assemblyman Adam Gray was really pushing for the legalization of online poker and even managed to overcome one of the bill’s greatest challenges – gaining approval of the California horse racing industry. Despite this, the bill could not pass the final stage, which is also the most significant – solving the issue of suitability. While optimists thought this issue will be ironed out in 2017, no meaningful progress was made, leaving many players disappointed at the death of this bill.

What Does the Future Hold?

Out of all the gambling options available on the internet, online poker definitely has the best chance to become legalized in California, followed by online casino and sports books. Nevada and New Jersey poker has already been legalized, and many players expect California to follow suit. That said, the tribal gaming establishments could hamper the process even further, while every state except Nevada has issues with legalizing sports betting. California is home to an impressively large variety of land-based poker rooms, and while places like Nevada and New Jersey haven’t really been able to attract a large online fan base as yet, California online poker rooms could actually enjoy a bustling online gaming community should the bill become law. And if more states legalize online poker and share player pools, it could grow into a massive and stable player base in no time.

Until California and the rest of the US states pass legislation to legalize online poker and gambling in general, a majority of players will be forced to play at unregulated sites. Playing at unregulated sites mean that users don’t have the protection that regulated sites feature, making players more susceptible to fraudulent and criminal activity. And because many players refuse to take the risk and play at unregulated sites, the online poker industry in the US continues to wane. If, however, more states pass the bill, players will enjoy safe and secure gaming without having to look to illegitimate or unsafe gambling methods. Predicting the outcome is almost impossible, but Californian poker players continue to hope that they will soon be able to legally and safety play their favorite poker game online soon.

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