The legal age to gamble in the state of California is 18. For the most part, that means that 18 year olds are able to buy lottery and bet on horse racing.
As for being of age to gamble in a casino, the age is on a case by case scenario.
You’ll find that the majority of 18 and up casinos in California are located in the Southern California area, mainly around San Diego. Most of the other casinos in the state will only accept players that are at least 21 years of age.
An alternate for those of you too young to gamble in California is to drive a little east to Nevada where more casinos accept 18 year old players. You don’t even have to go all the way into Las Vegas if you don’t want to.
List of 18 and Older Casinos in California
Barona Valley Ranch Casino (Lakeside, CA)
Black Bart Casino (Willits, CA)
Casino Pauma (Pauma Valley, CA)
Cher-Ae-Heights Casino (Trinidad, CA)
Chicken Ranch Bingo & Casino (Jamestown, CA)
Chumash Casino Resort (Santa Ynez, CA)
Coyote Valley Shodakai Casino (Redwood Valley, CA)
Eagle Mountain Casino (Porterville, CA)
Elk Valley Casino (Crescent City, CA)
Gold Country Casino (Oroville, CA)
Golden Acorn Casino (Camp, CA)
Jackson Rancheria Casino (Jackson, CA)
Mono Wind Casino (Auberry, CA)
Morongo Casion Resort (Cabazon, CA)
Red Fox Casino (Laytonville, CA)
Sycuan Resort & Casino (El Cajon, CA)
Table Mountain Casino (Friant, CA)
The Palace (Leemore, CA)
Twin Pine Casino (Middletown, CA)