Plenty of states have made moves to legalize sports betting since the federal courts overturned the national ban on sports gambling. The top sportsbooks and online betting sites are flying into new legal states to get new users to sign up. What about California? Here’s what you need to know about California online sports betting.
Is Sports Betting Legal in California?
Sports wagering is currently illegal in the state of California. That’s right, there is no legal sports betting in California. Sports bettors who want to get in on the action whether in person or with mobile sports betting will need to travel to a state that has legal and regulated sportsbooks.
Latest California Sports Betting News
A recent proposition in California to legalize California sports betting has been pulled after opposition from the gaming tribes of the state.
Two online sports betting initiatives in the state were filed, but faced opposition from the beginning. One was to have Indian tribes to control the entire sports betting industry in the state. The second one was to amend the state constitution to say that only Indian tribes can authorize retail or online sports betting in California. California sports betting will not be coming in 2024, though.
In November of 2023, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association publicly opposed the two motions in a press release, calling for them to end since they do not have the backing of California tribes. If sports betting is to come to California it will be orchestrated by the tribes of the state, not the outside commercial influencers that the tribes have accused of doing.
Back in November 2022, California voters voted no on their ballots for Prop 26 and 27. That was the most recent failed attempt to legalize sports betting in California.
Prop 26 and 27 would have allowed online sports betting as well as retail sports betting. Mobile betting apps would have been available in California. The props didn’t pass and there are still no online sports betting legal options in the state. The future of sports betting and gambling in California is going to be up to the voters.
Horse Racing Sports Betting in California
The state of California is one of the top locations for horse betting in the entire United States. There are multiple tracks such as Del Mar Racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, and Santa Anita Race Park. There are also several off-track betting locations where you can place wagers on horse racing.
Daily Fantasy Sports in California
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The connection between California and daily fantasy sports is intriguing. Despite not being legalized, DFS providers in California receive the highest number of contest entries and revenue compared to any other state, with approximately $200 million in entry fees per year. Consequently, these companies operate unregulated, as California has not imposed any restrictions on them.
Sites such as Underdog Fantasy, PrizePicks, and Betr Fantasy are available for California users.
Social Sportsbooks in California
If you’re seeking an alternative to DFS that’s more comparable to actual sports betting, here’s some social sportsbooks available in California.
- Thrillzz Social Sportsbook: Get a 100% Match up to $25 in Sweeps Coins + Free Coins on Your First Purchase! (Promo code BLEACHER)
- Fliff Social Sportsbook
Top Sports Teams and Betting Markets
If California betting ever gets going, sports bettors will have access to a long list of professional sports teams and college sports as well. The massive state has major professional sports and top Division I colleges. Here’s a look at some of the betting options as California is home to top teams in all sports.
MLB
There are several MLB teams in California including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and the Oakland A’s. If there is sports betting legalization in California, the Dodgers will be a popular team after a strong run in the last decade including the 2020 World Series title.
NBA
California has seen several champions in the NBA as the best California teams have made a lot of noise as of late. There are the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors have won multiple championships in the past decade while the Lakers have also won a title.
NFL
The NFL is one of the most popular sports in the United States and competitive teams reside in the state of California. The Chargers and Rams call Los Angeles home while there is also the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams recently won a Super Bowl while the 49ers have reached multiple conference title games and a Super Bowl.
NHL
Hockey fans could find some solid wagering in California with the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks. The Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. When sports betting is legal, if ever, these teams will be the top hockey options in CA betting.
College Sports
If there are ever retail and online betting options, college sports could draw some major interest. There are major Division I schools such as USC and UCLA that have strong athletic programs. There is also Stanford and Cal. March Madness could be a massive time for online sports wagering as multiple California schools are usually competing.
California Online Sports Betting FAQs
No. Sports betting is not currently legal in California. There are no retail and online CA sports betting options at this time. It will take a change in betting laws and voter approval for online gambling to be legalized.
No. You can’t place a sports bet on your phone or mobile device in the state. There are no options outside of horse racing in the online sports betting market. There are also no in-person sports betting options for major sports like baseball, basketball, and football.
The props in November of 2022 didn’t pass and the timetable for a potential sports betting legislation is unclear. It could become legal in California in 2024 or 2025 but there is no guarantee. It’s up to the tribes of CA and voters in the state at this time to help make sports betting legal in California.
There is a long list of teams in the state but you can’t place sports bets in California. You wouldn’t need sports betting to be legal in the Golden State before you can wager on major league teams in California like the Warriors, Lakers, Dodgers, Rams, and more.
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