California Online Gambling Scam Prompts Response from Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino

A California online gambling scam has prompted a warning from Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, the subject of the hoax.

The casino, which is located in Coarsegold, is apparently the focus of a fake social media advertising blitz. In emails and various other advertisements, users are encouraged to sign up for an online California betting app launched by the Gold Resort and Casino. However, as tribal officials note, there is no such California online gambling application. 

Full Details on California Online Gambling Scams

Gold Resort and Casino, which is operated by the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, put out a statement across multiple platforms reiterating the phony advertisements have no affiliation with the tribe or their gambling operations. Here is PlayCA’s Dan Holmes with the entire scoop:

“Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is dealing with a flood of fake ads on social media that copy its branding to target California consumers with a scam. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but Chukchansi is anything but flattered by its copycat. Ads that appeared in January on social media touted a new mobile gaming app and used the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino logo and a photo of the resort. But, the Chukchansi Tribe has no such gaming app. Real-money California online gambling is illegal. The tribe posted a message on X and Facebook that explained the erroneous ads ‘are not affiliated with us.’ The message, which appeared on Facebook, read: ‘Chukchansi Gold Casino announces the launch of its new gaming app for Android and IOS! Join us and get a welcome bonus for new players!’”

Part of the fake advertisement includes a $1,500 welcome bonus offer. It isn’t clear what happens to people who click the ad—and then input financial information. However, we can connect the dots. Anyone who made a deposit as a result of this blast likely lost whatever they put in. 

Many may have caught onto the scam themselves, though. Both online sports betting in California and online casinos in California remain illegal. So, the standing for this particular offer isn’t very strong.

Then again, there are brick and mortar casinos in The Golden State. Some people have just assumed that California online gambling is legal for casino gaming. Hence why a scam such as this one can be successful—and, by extension, dangerous.

California Isn’t The Only State Dealing with Gambling Advertisement Scams

This California online gambling scam is far from the only one. Across the United States, there is a palpable increase in the number of sports betting and online casino phishing scams. 

Most recently, as PlayCA notes, there was a Facebook marketing campaign claiming several casinos in The SunFlower State were offering Kansas online betting apps. These bogus advertisements also offered a $1,500 bonus. 

Beyond that, ads alleging the recent launch of Mississippi online betting sites spread throughout Facebook as well. This offered a $1,000 bonus while also claiming the establishment in question, the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, was opening an online sportsbook.

While issues like these are not new, we should likely prepare for more California online gambling scams in the near future. More specifically, we should absolutely expect to see more fake online sports betting campaigns on Meta’s Facebook app.

The company recently, and inexplicably, did away with all forms of fact-checking. Their reasoning is that too many accounts were mistakenly suspended as a result of fact-checking protocols. This is, of course, inane logic. The adjustment was more about kissing the ring of President Donald Trump and his administration. 

Regardless, Facebook’s current policies make it even easier to spread disinformation. That likely includes bogus marketing campaigns. Granted, we cannot know this for sure. You would expect there to be additional safety measures as part of paid campaigns. At the same time, Meta’s decision to, at the very least, diminish the value of fact-checking will no doubt contribute to the dissemination of misinformation like the California online gambling scam in question. 

The Future of Gambling in California 

While it’s not legal in California yet, the rise of online sports betting in the United States, specifically, effectively guarantees both mobile sports and casino wagering will arrive in The Golden State at some point. When will that be? It is tough to say.

Many believe efforts will be revived in 2025. However, recent comments from tribal officials suggest they are tabling online sports betting and casino talks for now. And if that’s the case, it will be another year, at least, before an agreement is reached.

From there, of course, any California online gambling legalization will be left to the voters. The next general election will be held in November 2027. Any measure that requires a constitutional amendment will not be approved before then. And even after that, it takes time to launch online operations. As of now, it looks like online gambling in California will not launch before 2028. 

Now, the state can always approve sports betting and casino bills without needing a constitutional amendment. But that route almost assuredly will not cover online gambling. States that travel this direction tend to roll out on-site gambling. If and when online betting sites follow, it can be a matter of years. 

This may not be the case in California. But given how things unfolded in 2022, we would expect some sort of staggered launch when the time comes. Either way, don’t expect California online gambling to receive the stamp of approval before 2027–at the absolute earliest.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: