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