Compare / California vs. Nevada
California vs. Nevada: gambling compared
California and Nevada share none of the major forms of legal gambling. California also has tribal casino gaming and state lotteries, which Nevada does not. Nevada has online sports betting, in-person sports betting, online poker and commercial casino gambling, which California does not.
Side by side
| California | Nevada | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | ||
| Sports (online) | Not authorized | Live since 2010 |
| Sports (retail) | Not authorized | Live since 1975 |
| Online casino | Not authorized | Not authorized |
| Online poker | Not authorized | Live since 2013 |
| Commercial casinos | Not authorized | Live since 1931 |
| Tribal casinos | Live since 2000 | Limited |
| Lottery | Live since 1985 | Prohibited |
| iLottery | Not authorized | Not authorized |
| Daily fantasy | Contested | Limited |
| VGTs / VLTs | Not authorized | Limited |
| Historical horse racing | Contested | Not authorized |
| Sweepstakes casinos | Prohibited | Not authorized |
| Prediction markets | Not authorized | Contested |
| Skill games | Contested | Not authorized |
| Card rooms | Live | Live since 1931 |
| Lottery couriers | Prohibited | Not authorized |
| Pick'em fantasy | Contested | Limited |
| Pari-mutuel | Live | Limited |
| Advance deposit wagering | Live since 2002 | Live |
| Charitable gaming | Live | Live |
| Esports betting | Not authorized | Live |
| Social casino | Live | Live |
| Tax rates | ||
| Sports (online) | — | 6.75% of GGR |
| Sports (retail) | — | 6.75% of GGR |
| Online poker | — | 6.75% of GGR |
| Commercial casinos | — | 3.5%–6.75% of GGR |
| Daily fantasy | — | 6.75% of GGR |
| VGTs / VLTs | — | 6.75% of GGR |
| Card rooms | 1.33% | 6.75% of GGR |
| Pick'em fantasy | — | 6.75% of GGR |
| Pari-mutuel | Set by statute; see rates | 2%–3% of amount bet |
| Minimum age | ||
| Commercial casinos | Not legal | 21 |
| Sports betting | Not legal | 21 |
| Lottery | 18 | Not legal |
| Tribal casinos | 21 | 21 |
| Online casino | Not legal | Not legal |
| Horse racing | — | 21 |
| Fantasy sports | — | 21 |
| Bingo & raffles | 18 | — |
| Sports betting rules | ||
| Bet on a phone anywhere in the state | — | Yes |
| College games | — | Yes |
| In-state college teams | — | Yes |
| College player props | — | Yes |
| Sign up in person | — | Yes |
| Credit cards | — | Yes |
| Esports | — | Yes |
| Official league data required | — | No |
| Money | ||
| Reported revenue per adult, 2025 | — | $6,399 Includes: Commercial casinos (includes sports (online), sports (retail)). Coverage differs; no overall state rank. |
| Gambling and amusement taxes per resident, FY2025 | $1.23 43rd of 47 | $433 1st of 47 |
| Gambling and amusement share of state taxes, FY2025 | 0.02% 45th of 47 | 9.80% 1st of 47 |
| Lottery sales per resident | $236 FY2024 | — |
| Lottery money to the state | $2.8B 30% of sales, FY2024 | — |
| Market | ||
| Online sportsbooks licensed | — | 11 |
| Casinos open | 119 | 304 |
| Regulators | California Gambling Control Commission Bureau of Gambling Control (CA Dept. of Justice) California Horse Racing Board California State Lottery Office of the California Attorney General | Nevada Gaming Control Board Nevada Gaming Commission Nevada Gaming Commission (Pari-Mutuel Wagering, NRS ch. 466) Office of the Nevada Attorney General |
| Gambling bills still moving | 495 | 5 |
Census amusement and sports/pari-mutuel tax categories include non-gambling admissions and amusement businesses. This is a broad tax measure, not a gambling-only total; tribal payments and lottery transfers are separate. If a category is unreported, the sum covers only reported categories; missing is not confirmed zero.