If you want to know why such a harmless game like craps is prohibited in CA, read on. We’ll explain the state’s gambling laws and tell you how tribal casinos bypassed the restrictive legal framework.
California Gambling Laws
The illegal status of a casino classic such as craps stems from the state’s complicated relationship with gambling. After going through California’s gambling laws, people usually end up with more questions than answers.
The state has four major stakeholders that make up the gambling scene:
- Cardrooms
- Tribal casinos
- State lottery
- Racetracks
Their products fall under the scope of legal gambling and operate throughout the state. As you can see, commercial-style gambling is a big no-no in the Golden State.
California legalized gambling on American Indian lands in 2000 after the popular vote approved Proposition 1A (a constitutional amendment). The tribes then negotiated specific compacts with the state, creating a legal framework for gambling activities.
However, the CA law excluded dice games and roulette wheels from the gambling layout. Any dice game, including craps, is illegal, and even tribal casinos can’t offer it to their customers. In fact, state law prohibits any games where players go against the house.
As a result, tribal casinos and legal cardrooms can offer slot machines, card-based table games, and live poker.
California Craps Game — Workaround
The CA gambling law interpretation left some wiggle room, letting tribal casinos bypass the dice game ban. When signing individual compacts with the state, tribes created a workaround that let them offer modified craps versions.
One of the most common solutions still allows players to throw a dice, not sacrificing the experience. The dice roll will then correspond with a randomly drawn card. Ultimately, the card dictates the outcome, not the dice roll. Currently, that’s the only way to play craps in tribal casinos while still abiding by CA laws.
The entire gameplay is slower than regular craps because the dealer has to turn over the cards and see the outcome. So, if you decide to play craps in a CA tribal casino, don’t expect an explosive experience — the overall atmosphere is much calmer.
Can You Play Online Craps in Offshore Casinos?
While charitable online gambling and social casinos are available to California residents, real-money online casinos are still out of reach. Due to the complex history and multiple stakeholders in the game, creating a uniform gambling layout that would satisfy everyone is currently next to impossible.
Luckily, CA residents have another option — offshore online casinos that cater to the Golden State. These operators feature a rich game portfolio with exciting titles, including many craps variants. You can play the popular dice game in RNG and live dealer versions for a chance to win juicy real-money prizes.
However, finding reliable and trustworthy platforms is a challenge. Not every offshore casino is legit, so you must ensure the one you play at has a valid license and employs advanced security measures to keep you and your money safe.
Once you find such an operator, you’ll be able to enjoy high-quality games, including thrilling online craps.
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Conclusion
There you have it — a short guide through the legal status of craps in California. Although you won’t find classic craps in tribal casinos, you can still enjoy the modified version with cards laid out on the table.
Alternatively, go online, pick a reputable offshore casino, sign up, and play craps anywhere, anytime.
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