California is very opened minded to gambling laws, much more so than most US states. Home poker games are perfectly legal in California. “Under California law, ‘controlled games’ such as poker can be played only in tribal casinos, licensed card rooms or private homes.”

[Reference: Nathan Barankin, spokesman for California state attorney general, USA Today; http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-17-poker-craze_x.htm]