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Online Gambling Age California

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Every teenager eventually runs into prohibitions based on age. To a 15-year-old it's understandable why a 5-year-old shouldn't be allowed to drive.

But why do you have to wait another year to get a driver's license?

The only law regarding online gambling in California is the age limit. You must be 21 years or older to legally gamble online. Can I Get Arrested for Gambling Online in California? No, but starting an online casino or gambling business in California is illegal – you can definitely get arrested for that. California Gambling Age: 18 for lottery and bingo, 21 for casinos and racing; Smoking ban: Smoking not permitted indoors except at tribal casinos, which are not covered by state smoking bans. California Online gambling: Horseracing is the only form of legal online gambling.

And if you have a summer job, why can't you spend your money on alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling the way 18-year-old or 21-year old friends and relatives do?

Everyone feels 'mature enough' to make mature decisions before their elders say they're ready.

But is the nearly universal prohibition on underage gambling based on tradition or some scientifically established fact?

Reflecting upon all the factors a gambling establishment, either online or land-based must consider, several reasons come to mind.

Age of Majority

This seems to be the most important factor.

Despite any precocious emotional or intellectual maturity young people may possess, in most jurisdictions, an age of majority prevails.

The age of majority determines when an individual can enter into legally binding contracts. A law-abiding gambling company cannot do business with minors.

Every member of an online casino must register and honestly affirm their age. To collect winnings they must prove their identity and age eligibility.

If a minor successfully enters a land-based casino, plays a game, and collects a modest stake, the casino has broken the law. The young player may get away with it.

But if the young player wins a jackpot requiring any kind of paperwork the casino won't honor the win.

Not only do they not have to honor the win they legally cannot.

Laws Governing Gambling Activities

Governments around the world decided not to allow minors to gamble in licensed establishments. Gambling laws take the decision out of the casinos' hands.

Many teens learn how to play blackjack, poker, roulette, and other gambling games at home or from their friends.

They may even play for money in unlicensed gaming situations.

If caught by authorities the teens may not be prosecuted, but game organizers would almost certainly be arrested.

Teens' parents are also held accountable for the behavior of their children.

But how often do teenagers take unwarranted risks without thinking about the consequences for themselves or others?

Age restrictions on gambling fall into a complex system of laws designed to protect young individuals from making life-destroying choices.

Emotional and Intellectual Maturity is Vital to Managing Risk

While few fully mature adults (estimates range from 5% to 10%) are considered gambling addicts, many acquired addictive habits while still adolescents.

Science is still uncertain about when people become fully mature adults. In 2014 the National Academy of Sciences proposed that ages 18-26 be considered the final stage of emotional and intellectual development.

The truth is that science has yet to show at what age the general population can make good choices about risky behavior. This goes well beyond gambling and into many types of activities.

Teens are not permitted to compete in many types of professional sports. They may lack the physical characteristics and training to compete, but their mental abilities are not yet ripe.

Social concerns about teens' readiness to make important choices are reinforced by one disturbing study: a 20-year study found that children experiencing stress do mature faster than their peers.

This is not a justification for allowing some teens to gamble, smoke, drink, or take other risks. It's clear confirmation that young people are not naturally ready to make adult choices. Gambling is all about risk, and society has deemed it's too risky for young individuals.

Gambling Requires Financial Responsibility

If you gamble, you're staking something of value. In both online and offline gambling establishments, money is at stake.

And gamblers are expected to cover their losses.

Unfortunately, this is easy to do with debt. You can borrow $1000 and take it to the casino. All the casino can do is insist you put money on the table before they allow you to pay.

Online casinos can only insist you deposit funds into your account before playing.

An emancipated teenager has the right to earn a supporting income, but most teens are not emancipated. Without the ability to enter into legal contracts, they can't even borrow money.

Ironically, even though casinos don't care where you get your money, they need you to bring in new money every time you gamble.

They're counting on your losses for their profits.

Having a steady income, being able to support yourself, and budgeting a reasonable amount for entertainment makes you a more desirable customer for a casino. A business that depends on financially unstable teenagers accepts greater risks than most casinos do.

How's that for irony?

Younger People Are More Susceptible to Addictive Behavior

Although science still has much to learn about how the brain develops and works, recent findings show that adolescents are more prone to addiction than adults.

An individual who grows to adulthood in a supportive, healthy environment is less likely to become an addict.

There are no guarantees in life, but requiring teens to wait before taking some risks helps them later in life.

Gambling addiction is the number 1 reason why some organizations oppose the spread of organized, legal gambling. The cost to society of treating addiction is calculable.

But that cost rises as one considers secondary issues, such as criminal behavior driven by addiction. Many crimes are committed by non-addicted people, but the connection between addiction and crime is undisputed.

Age-restrictive laws are intended to ensure that young people have a fair chance to grow to full maturity in safe environments. By holding adults accountable for how they interact with teenagers, society hopes to prevent some exploitative situations. And let's face it: some adults are unscrupulous enough to intentionally manipulate less mature teens into bad situations.

What Is the Youngest Legal Gambling Age in the World?

It's impossible to be sure, but this Wikipedia article lists no age restriction for a Category D gaming machine in the United Kingdom.

The same article includes a few other restrictionless forms of gambling:

  • Private or non-commercial gaming and betting
  • Equal chance gaming (prize gaming permitted or licensed family entertainment)
  • Prize gaming at an unlicensed family entertainment centre or traveling fair
  • The United Kingdom also permits 16-year-olds to gamble in:
  • National lottery
  • Scratch off ticket games
  • Football pools

Another country enacting unusual gambling laws is Afghanistan.

They forbid all land-based gambling activities, but anyone of any age can gamble in an online system. Afghanistan may not be known for its high-speed Internet, but cell phones are widely used there. The Wikipedia article says that Tunisia may have inadvertently made gambling legal for all ages by failing to make it illegal for all ages.

The country of Malawi in southeastern Africa allows children as young as 5 to gamble in land-based casinos.

Other than the exceptions noted above, gambling laws around the world set the minimum age at either 18 or 21.

Also, the Wikipedia article may not be up-to-date, and some of the points listed above could be inconsistent with current laws in the countries named.

Conclusion

The ancient Roman writer Tacitus wrote in his famous treatise, The Germania, that the ancient Germans of his time had a reputation for gambling:

'An amazing thing to us is that they practise gambling as the serious occupation of their sober hours; and they hazard to win or lose so recklessly that, when all he has is gone, a player will stake his personal liberty on a last and decisive throw.

If he loses he goes into voluntary slavery; and, although he may be the younger and the stronger man, he suffers himself to be bound and to be sold. They exhibit herein a most perverse obstinacy, and call it paying a debt of honour.

Successful gamblers get rid of the slaves held under this title by selling them to the merchants in order to escape their share of the shame.'

While some historians question the accuracy of Tacitus' description, there is some universal truth to the matter. Gambling has earned a hard reputation through the centuries. Some people do lose everything. For that reason society has learned to protect its youngest members (in most countries) from taking such risks until they have grown to an age to make sound decisions.

Life doesn't promise we'll always make the right decisions. That's why we make laws to slow us down when we're most apt to rush in where angels fear to tread.

Legal Gambling USA - Legal Gambling By State - Legal Online Gambling In California

With such a large population, legal online gambling for California residents represents an enormous market share. California is one of the more progressive states when it comes to online gambling, with locals partaking in all types of popular gambling. In terms of regulation, California has taken greater strides than just about any other state. Several bills have gone through the State Assembly, but none have actually emerged. The Tribal entities in the state, as well as opponents to gambling on a whole, have blocked most attempts at actually regulating gambling.

In spite of their efforts to stop a regulatory body from being created, there are still a handful of gambling sites that accept residents of California. Our primary objective here is to show you some insight about the legalities of online gambling in California, as we want to clear the air of any misconceptions you may have.

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Online Gambling Age For California Residents

As with many states, gambling in California is subject to a variety of different gambling age limitations. California is somewhat more confusing than some other states due to the fact that the state has set the bar lower than what some casinos will follow. What this means is that the state only requires residents to be 18 before they can engage in most forms of gambling, though the gambling business itself may have a higher requirement. In the event that this higher requirement is in place, it actually supersedes the state law. For land-based casinos and poker rooms, the age can be either 18 or 21. The same goes for online casinos and poker rooms. Playing bingo, the lottery and dog/horse races also requires you to be only 18. Online sports betting has a firm 21 year limit on the age requirement. Remember to check the minimum age required by your preferred gambling location, as this could be higher than your state's requirements.

California Online Gambling Laws

The online gambling laws in California are, as of now, nonexistent. There has yet to be a law written specifically covering online gambling. The state statutes reflect no ban on online gambling as far as we can tell, which is why it is generally understood that there are no penalties for online gambling. That having been said, PASPA has recently been repealed and it is possible that online sports betting could come to California in the upcoming years. If it continues in the footsteps of other states, California will likely regulate land-based, mobile, and online gambling. If you want to take a look for yourself at the current general laws, browse through Title 9, Chapter 10, of the California Penal Code

California Gambling Taxes

Unfortunately, you are supposed to pay taxes on all income that comes in, and that includes paying taxes from online gambling revenue in California. With that being said, right now there is no regulation for online gambling in California, so they really have no way of knowing that you brought the money in. The best thing you can do if you want to follow the law (which we suggest) is to pay taxes on all profits that you earn for the year.

Gambling Sites That Accept California Residents

When we started looking into the industry of legal USA online gambling, we had looked into quite a few different online gambling sites that accept residents from California. With such a large population, indeed a fairly wide reach of gamblers, it would be silly to overlook such an extensive market. We have only brought the best sites available into our list, as player protection is one of our primary purposes.

Bovada: Bet On All California Teams

One of the best online gambling sites is Bovada. One reason why is because of the variety of stuff that you can place your wagers on and win money. Along with sports, there is also an online casino available as well. With those options is a live dealer for those who want to play and experience the live feeling of being at a casino online. This is a great option for those who don't want to leave home but do want to participate in betting options. Still have slots and blackjack games that open up many other winning chances as well. Signing up for Bovada also rewards its players with many promotions so make sure to take advantage of that while you have the chance to. It doesn't take that long to sign up so just make sure you are 18 and older and you will be making money in no time.Go To Bovada!

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BetOnline: NFL In Game Betting On Your Phone

The golden state is the most populated state in the union, and you can bet that a large subsection of the folks use BetOnline, the best overall gambling site for California residents. Since there are no sportsbooks in California, people need to either take a trip to Nevada or go online to a legal sports betting site. BetOnline is not only the best online sportsbook; it's also the best poker site and virtual casino. The developers know what they are doing, having been at it for over ten years strong.

One of the many reasons to join BetOnline today is that they are offering a 100% poker signup bonus that will reward you just for joining the family. Make a first deposit of $50 or more, and you will be eligible to receive a 100% match bonus. Email freeplay@betonline.ag with 'NEWBOL' in the subject line to let them know that you are interested. This is a prime time to join BetOnline and start throwing bones. Go To BetOnline!

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Latest Legal USA Gambling News for California

July 24, 2017 - 12:48pm EDT
California Legislature Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Legalize Sports Betting

Online Casinos That Accept California Residents

California

While you could probably drive up the block and find a casino, there are also many online casinos in the state, casinos that offer all of the same games - generally with different themes (in the case of slots) and definitely with higher pay rates. These casinos offer players safe and fun ways to entertain themselves. See all online casinos that accept USA players.

Online Sports Betting Sites That Accept California Residents

Unless you live close enough to the Nevada border, it is generally impossible to bet on sports. This is no longer true due to online sports betting, where you can wager on sports with no real complications. We expect our readers to be able to bet without any trouble, as all of the sites we share are trustworthy and safe. See all sports betting sites accepting USA players.

Online Poker Sites That Accept California Residents

Though the number of legal online poker is somewhat limited at this point, there are still a few viable options out there. Even if the industry of online poker has taken a few hits over the past few years, it has continued to thrive. We are going to share with you only the best poker rooms for Californian residents, so you should not have too much trouble getting at the felts if you follow our advice.

Online Bingo Sites That Accept California Players

Bingo players can pull up their computer chair and hit the cards with no trouble, as we have secured a list of online bingo sites where real money play is not only accepted but also encouraged. Though these are not the most popular of the California gambling sites, they are still available for those who want to participate.

Online Sports Betting California Age

Is Online Gambling Legal In California?

Online gambling is legal in California when you use reputable online gambling sites. We have thoroughly explored both the California Constitution and the California Penal Code and there are no laws that mention using the internet to gamble. CA is similar to most states that have opted to rely on federal stipulations when it comes to certain types of gambling, though none of these laws make gambling on the internet illegal for bettors. Any statute regarding online gambling applies to operators and/or other US businesses.

California residents do not have to be fearful of laws that do not exist and therefore cannot effect how you gamble. Our only caveat is that you should never use a local bookie to bet on anything. The law does strictly prohibit gambling with land-based bookmakers that are not licensed. Stick to the legal offshore gambling sites featured on our page when you are ready to start wagering.

Can California Residents Safely Gamble Online?

Online Gambling Age California Fishing

Regardless of any online gambling laws in California lead you to believe, it is safe for any resident of California to gamble online for real money. You will have a problem if you decide that you want to start your own online or offline gambling business, however. We do not recommend this to anyone especially if you plan on basing your operation inside the state. So, as long as you are just a consumer and you stick the recommendations we have on this page (all are safe and trusted), you will not need to worry about any consequences from gambling online in California.

Are Online Casinos Legal In California?

With no blanket ban on online gambling, it is fair to assume that there are legal online casinos in California. These online casinos will provide you with a way to participate in a handful of games, providing you with just about everything you would find in a live casino – and more. You will not run into any issues of legality when using reputable casino gaming sites that are based offshore.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In California?

Legal Online Gambling Age In California

The industry of sports betting is more scrutinized by the government, but the California government has done nothing to specifically make it illegal for players to bet on sports in California. Since federal laws like the Wire Act effectively make it so those 'in the business of bookmaking' are held liable, you as a player can generally safely make wagers. Also keep in mind that numerous states have started to regulate the industry, which means legal California sports gambling sites could be licensed by the state sooner than later.

Online Gambling Age California 2017

Is Online Poker Legal In California?

California residents are one of the largest groups of online poker players. While the state has not passed any online poker laws as of late, there are still a wide range of options for legal online poker gambling in California. Numerous sites accept local residents every day for real money poker games and tournaments. BetOnline has one of the most popular online poker rooms, but California residents may also like the poker room at SportsBetting.

Can I Bet On Horse Racing In California?

California has a booming horse racing industry where residents are free to bet on the ponies as often as they'd like. The state offers regulated pari-mutuel and simulcast horse wagering opportunities to horseplayers at various locations. While you can visit Santa Anita and spend the day at the races, it is not feasible to make this trip every single day. That is where online racebooks come in to provide you with 24/7 horse racing betting action. You can bet on tracks in California or those scattered all throughout the nation.

Funding Your Legal Online Gambling Account

Once you have registered at a site, you can move on to funding your legal online gambling account. There are several convenient deposit methods that you can choose from, through the specific banking limits will vary from site to site. The best funding method across the board is bitcoin. Bitcoin is a digital currency that is extremely fast and equally as reliable. You make deposits of anywhere between $10 and $50,000 almost instantly. All you have to do is transfer your BTC to the bitcoin wallet address provided by the cashier at the site, and your funds will be available for wagering.

For high roller betting, we suggest using bank wire transfers. Bank wires take money from your checking or savings account and send it directly to the online cashier. While there are bank-dependent fees for using this method, there is no maximum limit when it comes to making a deposit. Your cash should be reflected in your account within 72 hours.

Aside from these methods, you can also use money orders, checks, and credit cards for deposits. Check with your preferred online gambling site for processing speeds and other details.

California Gambling FAQS

How Much Does The Membership Cost?

Online gambling sites do not charge any membership fees for new customers. Hard to believe considering how valuable their gambling products and exclusive promotions are, but there is no reason to ever pay to join a site. Operators want you to spend your money on gambling rather than having to pay exorbitant miscellaneous fees. The best online gambling sites value their players and show this by offering their services at no charge.

Do I have to submit a new Credit Card Authorization Form every time I use my credit card?

No, you only have to submit a credit card authorization the first time you use your credit card. Safety is extremely important at the top online gambling sites. Cashiers ask for verification forms as a way to protect your account and to ensure that your card is not being used fraudulently. Once the operator has your authorization on file, you can use the same credit card to make instant deposits.

Online Gambling Age California 18

Do Bitcoin Sportsbooks Offer Mobile Betting?

Bitcoin sportsbooks offer mobile betting for players that want to bet on the go. These apps are completely free, and many times do not require any additional download. For example, you can just visit 5Dimes.eu from your handheld device to be redirected to the mobile site. You can still bet on Golden State, make a fast BTC deposit, or request a payout with just a few swipes. Mobile sports betting is compatible with most devices, including iPhones, BlackBerrys, Android, and Windows devices.

Will I go to jail for online gambling in California?

No, it is extremely unlikely that a casual bettor would ever fo to jail for online gambling in CA. There is no precedent that we can cite that would make us believe that online gambling has ever gotten someone arrested in the state of California. No, you have nothing to worry about.





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