California Online Sports Betting

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

California voters voted no on their ballots for Prop 26 and 27 back on the November 2022 ballot. Another 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

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.

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.

Popular Bet Types at Legal Online Sportsbooks

There is no legal sports betting in the state but that doesn’t mean bettors can’t get familiar with the popular bet types in the sports betting market. While California residents hope for sports betting legalization, they can check out some of these popular bet types they would see if they are able to eventually bet on sports in California.

Moneylines

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game straight up. You’re betting on the winner. Favorites are usually listed with negative odds while an underdog will have positive odds.

For example, you check betting odds and see the Los Angeles Chargers are -120 favorites vs the Bears. If the Chargers are victorious, it would take a $120 bet to win $100.

Point spreads

When you make a point spread bet, you’re betting on the margin of victory or defeat. Each team is given a point value to balance the odds. Point spreads allow you to bet on either team, even if one is heavily favored to win.

For example, you might see the Golden State Warriors are -5.5 point favorites vs the Chicago Bulls. The Warriors would need to win by six points or more to cover the spread.

Betting lines for point spreads usually come with odds around -110 on both sides. A $110 bet would win $100. Point spreads are one of the most popular bet types.

Totals

When you make a total bet, it’s also known as an over/under bet. You’re betting on the total number of points that both teams will score in the game. The sportsbook will set a line on how many points they think will be scored.

For example, the total for the Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs game is 7.5 runs. For an over bet to win, at least eight runs or more need to be scored in the game. If the game ended 6-4, it would be an over because 10 total runs were scored.

Props

A prop bet is a wager on a specific outcome within a game. Keep in mind, the outcome is not necessarily tied to the final result. Some people find these bets more enjoyable. Sportsbooks offer props on different outcomes for players, teams, and games.

There are a variety of outcomes such as how many points a player will score, how many rebounds a player will have, how many touchdowns a QB will throw for, and more. For example, Justin Herbert might have his over/under for passing yards set a 272.5. You are betting whether he will be over or under that mark in the game.

Futures

A futures bet is looking at an event or outcome down the road. Betting on which team will win the championship or what player will win the NBA MVP. These odds change throughout the year based on performance, injuries, and more. You can track futures of major sports teams and players on the top online sites throughout the year.

Parlays

A parlay bet is when you combine multiple outcomes into one single bet slip. This gives you a boost in odds but comes with a catch. To win a parlay, all of the bets have to win. With each leg you add to the parlay, the probability of winning the bet goes down.

For example, you can select three NFL teams each to win on a Sunday in the fall. If any of the teams lose, your bet loses. If all the teams win, you receive your payout based on the odds.

Live Betting

There has been a boom in live betting as sports bettors enjoy placing wagers as an event happens. The odds and lines quickly changed based on the action. There are all sorts of live betting options from traditional bets to props and more. You can bet on what will happen on the very next play and more.

Popular Promotions at Legal Online Sports Betting Sites

If online sports betting in California ever becomes legal, the top sportsbooks will have offers and promotions to encourage new bettors to sign up. Here are some of the common offers you would see in legal and regulated sports betting states.

Bonus Bets

One of the best bonuses is a bonus bet. Sportsbooks will dish out bonus bets to new users to entice them to register for the platform. Some bonus bets come without a qualifying deposit. All you need to do is sign up and a sportsbook will give you bonus bets up to a certain amount. Sometimes, the bonus bet needs to be wagered on a specific event.

Other bonus bets have what is called a qualifying bet or deposit. You have to either place a wager or deposit a certain amount of money to receive the bonus bets. For example, DraftKings has run offers in the past where you place a $5 wager and get $150 in bonus bets instantly.

Second Chance Bets or Bet Insurance

First bet insurance is also known as a no-sweat bet, second chance bet, or first bet offer. It provides a safety net for users who place their first bet. This promotion offers protection for the first bet up to a specific amount.

In the event of a loss, the sportsbook will credit the user’s account with bonus bets or bet credits equivalent to the initial wager. This perk is designed to encourage new users to explore the platform and bet without fear of losing their initial investment.

Refer a Friend

Refer a Friend is a common promotion offered by sportsbooks that rewards users for inviting their friends to join the platform. When a user refers a friend, they will receive a bonus or credit, often in the form of bet credits or bonus bets, once their friend signs up and meets certain criteria.

Refer a Friend promotions not only provide incentives for users to invite their friends but also expand the sportsbook’s customer base.

Deposit Match Bonus

When it comes to sports betting, the top sportsbook apps may offer enticing promotions like deposit matches or bonuses for new users. A deposit match is when a sportsbook matches a portion or all of your deposit with bonus funds to use for betting.

For instance, if a sportsbook offers a 25% deposit match up to $1000 and you deposit $1000, you’ll receive an additional $250 in bonus funds to use for your bets online. This promotion can provide bettors with extra funds to explore the platform and find the best betting fights, odds, events, and more.

However, it’s important to read the terms and conditions associated with deposit match promotions, such as wagering requirements or expiration dates, before accepting them.

California Online Sports Betting FAQs

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