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