Online Bakersfield Poker Rooms, CA

In addition to a land-based poker room, Bakersfield players also have access to some online poker action. Get the scoop on available sites and CA laws!

Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by

Adrian Sterne

Fact checked by Dusan Jovanovic

In accordance with California gambling laws, only live poker is allowed in Bakersfield.

The online version of the game is illegal, at least for the time being. Still, the state has attempted to regulate it several times, which indicates that such legislation may be passed in the future.

In the meantime, Bakersfield poker aficionados can either visit the poker room in Golden West Casino (the only one in the city) or join offshore poker sites until significant changes have been made to the law.

In case you are wondering what the best online poker rooms are and whether visiting them is legal, check out our detailed guide on online poker in Bakersfield.

Best Online Poker Sites in Bakersfield, CA

Wouldn’t it be convenient to have a list of top-rated online poker rooms that you can join without thinking twice? Luckily, you’ve come to the right place!

Our team of experts has compiled a list of quality poker operators catering to US players. The websites that have been included are rated according to available poker variations, the diversity of cash games and tournaments, their bonus size, and many other features. All this information is updated regularly, so rest assured — you’re in good hands.

My list of the best poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2024:

100% Legal & Licensed
Verified Bonus
Mobile Friendly
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Must be 18+ to participate.

# 1 Poker Site

5.0 / 5.0

100% up to $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by

100% First deposit bonus
Top 3 in US player traffic
Great selection of games
Banking through cryptocurrencies

Payout speed 1-3 days

Deposit options

+10

Exclusive bonus

100% up to $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Visit Site Read Review

# 2

5.0 / 5.0

100% upto $3000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by

Increased Poker Crypto Bonus $1500
Exclusively for US players
Many Payment Options
Rich Player Traffic

Payout speed 1-3 days

Deposit options

Exclusive bonus

100% upto $3000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Visit Site Read Review

# 3

4.0 / 5.0

200% upto $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by

Recreational Player Traffic
Get a 200% Match on Your Initial Deposit
Wide Tournament Selection
High-Quality Games

Payout speed 1 - 5 days

Deposit options

Exclusive bonus

200% upto $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Visit Site Read Review

Displayed 3 of 8 rooms

Is Online Poker Legal in Bakersfield?

Over the past several years, CA legislators have failed to reach a consensus on online poker regulation. As a result, no changes have been made that would make the activity legal in California and, by extension, Bakersfield.

Since the enactment of the UIGEA, the Golden State has tried to legalize online poker several times. Unfortunately, none of the attempts were successful, including the latest one in 2017. The chief issue, as it seems, revolves around the opposition to online gambling legalization coming from tribal and commercial brick-and-mortar establishments. Sweepstake sites that don’t offer real-money poker gameplay are the only online poker options CA laws permit for now.

As a result, Bakersfield players are increasingly turning to offshore poker sites that offer real-money cash games and tournaments. Although California doesn’t view international operators as legal, it doesn’t oppose them either. Still, as these sites operate in the gray area, make sure to seek legal counsel before you join any of them.

Bakersfield, CA Poker Laws

Law Bakersfield is subject to California poker laws. You can find them below, in case you want to take a closer look:

How to Choose the Best Online Poker Room in Bakersfield

Each online poker room offers a different set of games, tournaments, bonuses, and other features. Ultimately, you will have to choose the perfect one based on your personal preferences.

When evaluating poker rooms, you should rely on a few key criteria. We have outlined some of them below.

Licensing and Security

Since offshore poker sites aren’t regulated in California, it is important to make sure they hold a license from a reputable jurisdiction. Licensed online poker rooms have to follow the rules and standards set by their regulatory body, which reduces the chances of any unfair practices. In addition, the site you choose should deploy security measures like SSL or TLS encryption, firewalls, and 2FA so that your funds and private information can remain safe at all times.

Games and Tournaments

Most poker sites stick to the standard Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo poker variants, as players usually favor these games. These are also the main options for tournaments, with betting limits being either No-Limit or Pot-Limit. This is the minimum level of diversity that a poker site should provide, alongside 24/7 table operation.

If you are planning on joining a website, we also advise you to check tournament types and look out for freerolls, as these competitions don’t require an entry fee. Freezeouts are also common at offshore poker rooms, along with Sit & Gos, MTTs, Bounties, Satellites, and more. The sites offering different tournament types will have better game dynamics.

Traffic and Buy-Ins

It doesn’t matter how many perks a poker site offers if there’s no one to play against. So, when choosing a poker room, pay attention to how much traffic it receives and check the number of active tables for the games you like. For instance, if you’re focused on tournaments with guarantees, the number of entrants is essential since it directly affects the prize pool — the more entrants the tournament attracts, the greater the prize pool will be.

Once you find the site with acceptable player traffic, check the minimum buy-in amount to see whether you can afford to sit and play. On the other hand, if you’re a high roller, look for tables without a buy-in cap.

Promotions

Poker rooms often offer generous welcome bonuses to help players build their bankrolls. The best ones also feature incentives for registered users, such as rakeback and reload bonuses.

You’ll also find many poker sites with loyalty programs designed to reward members for playing. Usually, these schemes have several tiers through which you can gain a VIP status and unlock extra rewards like free tournament entries, better rakeback and cashback percentages, and more lucrative bonus deals.

Of course, don’t forget to read the bonus terms to see whether you can actually benefit from the deal you’re eyeing.

Banking

It is crucial to choose a poker site that offers secure and trusted payment methods, especially if you intend to play frequently or take part in high-roller tournaments. The poker room you opt for should offer your preferred payment method as well as a few alternatives. Some options frequently featured by top-rated poker sites include different e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, prepaid cards, and other online payment methods.

You may also find that major credit cards are accepted at some offshore poker rooms, but beware that US players often avoid them since banks tend to block online gambling transactions. Finally, it’s advisable to check whether the same payment method can be used for deposits and withdrawals, as well as what transaction times, limits, and fees might apply.

Reputation

While a site might seem safe at first glance, it may also have a bad reputation for delaying payments, freezing accounts, and illegally confiscating winnings. You can easily avoid fraudulent operators by reading reviews and learning about the experiences of fellow players.

Remember — reliable online poker rooms won’t put their reputation at stake by scamming their members and ignoring complaints.

Benefits of Playing Online Poker in Bakersfield, California

In case you’re still debating whether to play online poker, here are a few reasons why you should give it a shot:

No poker tells – During live poker games, players can learn a lot about each other and often successfully guess how strong someone’s hand is based on their facial expressions, breathing, reactions, and other behaviors. Luckily, in online gameplay, none of this matters since players can’t see each other.
24/7 action – Online poker rooms usually don’t have working hours. You can log in and play a few hands whenever it suits you, as long as the player traffic allows it.
Multi-table gameplay – At online poker rooms, you can place bets at multiple tables simultaneously. You can even play completely different poker variants if you can’t make up your mind about which one to choose.
Multiple options – There are many offshore poker sites to choose from, as opposed to just one land-based poker room available in Bakersfield.

Famous Poker Players From Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield isn’t known for churning out world-class poker players. Nevertheless, some of its residents regularly attend big poker tournaments.

Al Adler — Adler is a Bakersfield resident who owns an oil and gas exploration company in the city, as well as Aviator Casino in Delano. Even though poker isn’t his main source of income, he’s managed to bank $86,613 from the WSOP events and three circuits since 2004.

Isidro Martinez — Martinez is another player from Bakersfield who has been steadily building a career in poker. His total live earnings exceed $150,000, and he is primarily interested in the World Series of Poker, as his long-term goal is to become a professional poker player.

Luong Quach — Luong Quach is an aspiring poker player who has earned $129,629 so far. His biggest cashout came from $400 COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold’em at the 2022 Annual World Series of Poker, where he finished fifth and won $112,060.

Best Land-Based Poker Rooms in Bakersfield

Located in Kern County in Southern California, Bakersfield is far from gambling hotspots. The only land-based poker room in the city can be found at Golden West Casino, which regularly offers No Limit Hold’em tournaments. When you visit this venue, you can also take part in cash games, including Hold’em and Omaha.

Name	Address	Number of tables	Cash games	Tournaments
Golden West Casino	1001 South Union Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93307	34	Yes	Yes

FAQ

Is online poker legal in Bakersfield, CA?

Online poker isn’t officially legal in Bakersfield, as it’s not permitted at the state level. Despite this, players can access offshore online poker rooms since there are no specific laws preventing them from doing so.

Are there any land-based poker rooms in Bakersfield?

Yes, there’s one poker room in Bakersfield, and it’s a part of Golden West Casino. Additionally, you can find poker tables at over 70 other venues in California.

Do Bakersfield online poker rooms offer promotions?

Yes, they do. Players will find welcome bonuses, rakeback offers, reload bonuses, and other perks at offshore poker rooms.

Do I have to be 21 to join offshore online poker rooms?

In most cases, offshore poker rooms accept players who are at least 18 years old.

Adrian Sterne

Editor

Contact Me

Hi, I am the Chief Editor of top10pokersites.net, this site is dedicated to all thing poker. I have been working around the poker industry for the last 15 years, with different brands. The main purpose of this site is to keep you uptodate with the industry and offer you the best deals around.