Whether it's 2016 or 2020 at some point online poker will be legalized in California. Once that happens players will have plenty of options to grow their online bankrolls.
While regulation is still a distant goal for lawmakers we already have a picture of who will offer online poker in California once the game is legalized.
Below are some of the online poker sites you can expect to find once online poker is legal in California.
Brands Virtually Guaranteed to Operate in California
1) WSOP.com
At the top of the list of brands guaranteed to have a spot in legalized online poker in California is WSOP.com.
WSOP.com is an extension of Caesars Interactive Entertainment and is a lock thanks to Caesars operating a casino in southern California.
WSOP.com is presently the largest site in both Nevada and New Jersey and WSOP CA will probably be #1 or #2 in the state depending on whether PokerStars is licensed.
2) 888poker
Another brand that will likely operate in California is 888 Poker. WSOP.com is powered by software provided by 888 Holdings but it also has an online poker prescence in both Delaware and New Jersey.
In California we could see the company operate a standalone site (888 Poker CA) or offer the All-American Poker Network to various operators. The AAPN would be an excellent option for smaller card rooms and Indian tribes due to shared liquidity and ease of setup.
3) Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs is another operator guaranteed to operate in California. It has already signed a partnership with Oceans 11 and Crystal Casinos to offer online poker. This will be a new endeavor for the company.
Other Brands Likely to Operate in California
There are a few other brands that are worth noting and while they are not "guaranteed" to have a California prescience we believe they are likely to operate.
1) PartyPoker
Until recently PartyPoker was a company we thought would be a lock for California. However, the potential sale of bwin complicates matters. If 888 Holdings purchases the company there is a chance it merges the brand into 888 Poker.
2) Pala Poker
Pala Poker is another operator we feel will operate in California. The company had plans of opening a poker site in New Jersey but scrapped them due to the pending arrival of PokerStars.
The Pala tribe currently operates PalaCasino.com in New Jersey and will likely offer a similar brand for its online poker site.
3) Real Gaming
Real Gaming is another operator that could pop up in California. In recent months company officials have expressed an interest in offering online poker in California.
4) PokerStars
We put PokerStars as the final site likely to operate in California. With opposition to the site beginning to wane among stakeholders, it's only a matter of time before the Pechanga coalition comes up with some type of compromise to end the stalemate.
Lawmakers, poker fans and even stakeholders are beginning to see the benefits of allowing PokerStars in a regulated market and we think it will eventually happen.