Can you play PokerStars in CA. No, PokerStars isn't legal in California. Despite the lack of state-regulated online poker, playing internet poker for real money remains completely legal for California residents. However, that doesn't prevent players from finding. The state does not allow internet gambling, which means that popular online poker operators such as. Online poker is not yet allowed in California, meaning that the state doesn't issue licenses to poker operators. The state has earned that reputation thanks largely to the card clubs that. Instead, Cali residents can. Online poker California is not legal, however, there are options. . Yes, home poker games are legal in California, as long as the host of the game doesn't take a rake from the pots or require any sort of fee from the players. What about Online poker operators? There are no. Only a handful of US states have legal online poker sites that are licensed to operate. So yes, since online poker is played at home with the only gains being your winnings, it's perfectly legal. A number of online poker sites state that poker is not illegal in California because California law no longer criminalizes the playing of. The only sites available in California are offshore poker sites. California online poker FAQ . California does not currently have its own online poker industry.