Are Slot Machines Legal In California

  • Online Slots
  • Online Casinos For USA Players
  • No Download Slots
  • Slot Tournaments
  • Free Slots

California may soon set a precedent as the first state to legally license and regulate online gambling within the borders of the United States. The proposed bill SB 1485 by Sen. Rod Wright would give the state's DOJ authorization to grant up to three contracts to 'hub' casinos to provide legal online casino games for California players. The bill would also override the effects of the UIGEA, which means players will be able to move money to and from the casinos without any problems and deposit using their credit cards. As it stands now, California is one of the few states where the laws around online gambling have been are grey. There are no laws that state it is illegal to gambling online from California, while at the same time there is nothing set in stone saying it is legal either. The bill is currently in the State Senate with a hearing scheduled for June 29, 2010.

Senator Wright's SB1485 is still in the early stages, but there are plenty of online casinos that do accept California players. We have listed our top picks below, along with information pertaining to licensing. We have personally played at each site, tested the software, cashier and of course customer support. The online casinos listed on this page are legally licensed and audited frequently, which means the games are fair and your personal information is secure.

A functioning slot machine is generally illegal to possess, as well as to fix and to transport in the State of California. Look at California Penal Code section 330 and the subsequent paragraphs. This answer is for guidance only and is not intended nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. You must understand that using a slot machine for profit or gambling purposes is illegal and could subject you to severe penalties. Before purchasing a slot machine you must understand that every state does not allow ownership of these machines. However, we suggest that you check with your local authorities.

Legal Online Casinos and California Gambling

The casinos listed above are fully licensed and regulated. While the online casinos aren't licensed by the state of California just yet, they are regulated casinos. What this means to California players is that the casinos abide and follow strict guidelines in order to provide gaming services. Each casino submits to periodic testing by a third party company to ensure the games are fair. Furthermore, the casinos listed above provide state of the art security similar to your bank or financial institution. Your personal information, credit cards and anything pertaining to your account is encrypted using a 128 bit SSL.

About the California SB 1485

The revamped version of the California SB1485 proposed by State Senator Rod Wright is essentially a bill that would allow the state to offer intrastate gambling. By legalizing intrastate gambling, California would legally be able to override the current UIGEA and provide online gambling for real money. California isn't the only state to attempt this. They are however pushing to get this bill passed quickly.

Are Slot Machines Legal In California

California

The benefits of legalizing online casinos in California are ten fold. The state currently has a deficit of $20 million. By granting contracts to online casinos to legally operate in California, the state will be able to tax the revenue, thus receiving an additional source of funds they otherwise don't have. Sen. Wright's bill would implement a 'fee' to the operators, providing the state with 20% of the gross revenue, which is expected to be upwards of $2 billion within five years. The 'California Online Poker Law Enforcement Compliance and Consumer Protection Act of 2010' would also provide the state with the resources to ensure that the games provided by the legal Californian casinos are fair and furthermore restrict underage gamblers from accessing the games.

In its current state, Sen. Wright's bill would go against the California Constitution and would classify as a Class III. In March of 2000, the state passed Proposition 1A which modified the constitution to allow Class III gaming on Indian land only. All Class III gaming would have to be approved by a tribal ordinance and in accordance to a pact made between the Tribe and the State. By allowing intrastate gambling, where any company has the right to bid on a contract, the state will go against the pact made in 2000 and all interests between the two will cease. This also means revenue generated by the tribal casinos.
A hearing is scheduled for June 29, 2010.

Are

Are Slot Machines Legal In California


Play Online Slots

Popular Pages


You can find as many objects to collect as you can find collectors, but some of the most interesting collectibles are slot machines. You can buy them used, but the legality of owning a gambling machine varies from state to state. This page takes a look at some of the issues involved in buying a used slot machine to start or expand a collection of your own.

Where Do You Live?

The first thing you should understand is that no matter where you live, if you’re using a slot machine to offer gambling to other people, you need a license. In some states, gambling is completely prohibited. Chances are you’re an individual collector and don’t have a gambling license, so don’t let people gamble on your games unless you have a high risk tolerance for illegal behavior.

In some states, even collectors aren’t allowed to own a used slot machine. These states include Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Ownership of slot machines, used or otherwise, is illegal in those states.

Other states have no legal restrictions on slot machine ownership as long as you’re not using them to run a gambling business. These states include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The other states have specific guidelines based on the age of the machine. For example, in California, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming, it’s legal to own a slot machine as long as it’s at least 25 years old. Other states have higher or lower age limits—in Florida you can own a slot machine as long as it’s 20 years or older, but in Massachusetts, it has to be at least 30 years old. And still other states base it on what year the machine was built; in Illinois and Iowa, for example, it’s only legal to own slot machines that were constructed before 1950.

To the best of my knowledge, this information is complete and accurate, but before buying your own used coin-op slot machine, you should check with local legal authorities to make sure you have the most up to date information. You should always obey the laws in whatever jurisdiction you reside.

What Kind of Dealer Are You Dealing With?

You’ll find plenty of people selling used slot machines on the Internet. Many of these are third-party sellers. That means they don’t offer slot machines directly; instead, they just take your order and then buy the slot machine from someone else and have it shipped to you. You’ll often notice that these third party dealers use stock images or pictures that were stolen from direct dealers’ websites.

It’s better to deal with a direct dealer when you can. These dealers will often offer a warranty on the machines they sell. They’ll also be able to help you over the phone if you’re having a problem operating your game. Third party dealers aren’t able to offer you this level of service.

One way to be sure you’re dealing with an actual dealer instead of a third party is to ask them if you’re able to visit their showroom or warehouse. Third party dealers, for obvious reasons, don’t have showrooms or warehouses.

What Kinds of Used Slot Machines CAN I Buy?

Are Slot Machines Legal In California Today

Most dealers offer reconditioned machines that have been retired from use in Las Vegas style casinos. Many of these are the same IGT (International Game Technology) manufactured games that you’re used to seeing in the casino, only older and more primitive. Most dealers also provide replacement parts and repair services.

One thing to look for when considering buying a machine from a dealer is whether or not they use real glass or plexiglass. Real glass is superior as plexiglass fades over time. You can expect to pay a little more for a machine with real glass, but it’s worth the extra cost. If you’ve ever seen a faded plexiglass screen on a used slot machine, you’ll know what I mean.

Many of these games can be set up to enjoy on “free play” mode. You don’t have to insert any kind of money in order to play these games. You can even modify these games to pay out tickets.

Examples of some of the popular and well-known games available for sale on the Internet include titles like Cleopatra, Double Diamond, Munsters, Red, White, and Blue, Sizzling Senves, Tabasca, Texas Tea, and Wild Cherry slots. Many other titles are available besides these, but you’ll recognize a lot of these brand names as still being available (albeit in newer models) in casinos today.

How Much Should I Spend?

Used slot machines are collectibles, and they’re priced accordingly. Shipping is usually going to be expensive, too. You can probably expect to pay at least $600 for a good machine and $200 for shipping. Video slots will cost twice that or more, and you’ll sometimes have the option of upgrading to a new LCD monitor when buying a video slot machine. Those are expensive, too–$400 or $500.

Other upgrades you can pay for include stereo sound packages, coin in coin out functionality, and/or backlit reels (on mechanical or electro-mechanical machines). These upgrades generally cost between $100 and $200 each.

Of course, these prices apply to relatively newer slot machines. Older antique slot machines can cost more or less. I’ve seen slot machines from the 1930s and 1940s that were beautifully refurbished for sale for as little as $325. Some of these older machines are barely recognizable as slot machines, but they make beautiful, conversation-worthy collections.

Conclusion

Buying a used slot machine can be a fun way to start a new hobby of collecting gaming machines, but do some research first. You want to make sure that it’s legal to do so before you get started. You also need to do some research into dealers before spending any money. Avoid third-party dealers, and find a direct dealer with a warehouse who offers warranties and telephone customer support.