Being the largest State in the USA with almost 40 million residents, it’s no surprise that California is a hotbed for sports betting in the United States.

1. California Online Sports Betting Laws
2. Sportsbook Betting California

California is one of nine states exploring legalized sports betting in 2020, according to the American Gaming Association, a lobbyist group that represents the U.S. Casino industry. They acknowledge that online sports betting is probably coming eventually to California — but want to control when and how it arrives. Having online betting “dictated to us is unacceptable,” James. Read more Super Bowl 55 Sports Betting Bonuses and Promotions. Brooklyn Nets vs Philadelphia 76ers Picks, Spread and Prediction. Date/Time:, 20:00 EDT Spread: Philadelphia.

California, like the majority of states in the USA, does not allow sports betting within the State. This means that if you’re a California resident that would like to bet on sports you will need to open an account at an online sportsbook that is licensed and regulated outside of the State.

On this page I’ll explain the legality of betting on sports in California, recommend some offshore betting sites and touch on some specific cities within California.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in California?

First off, I want to point out that it is not legal to accept bets (run a sportsbook) in the State of California. This is due to California not licensing or authorizing any sports betting operator to run a betting service in the State. For this reason, if you see any online sportsbook that is run out of California you can be sure that it is not legal and likely not safe.

That said, it is NOT illegal for residents of California to bet through offshore betting sites. Offshore sportsbooks do not violate California’s gambling laws by instead being licensed by and regulated in a different jurisdiction. It is legal and safe for residents of California to open accounts and place bets at these offshore sportsbooks.

Best Sports Betting Sites for California Residents

Here are our two favourite offshore sportsbooks that accept residents of California….

• Built for American bettors
• Wide variety of competitive betting lines
• Easy to navigate betting platform

• Accepts players worldwide
• Competitive betting lines
• Fast & easy deposits and withdrawals (including Bitcoin)

Offline Sports Betting in California

There is currently no offline sports betting allowed in California. If you do come across a bookie you should realize that the bookie is operating their business illegally.

The only way to currently bet on sports in the State of California is through an offshore betting site, like I outlined above.

Even California casinos are currently unable to take sports bets. That said, depending where you live in California, Nevada may only be a short drive and almost every casino in Nevada will have it’s own sportsbook.

Major Sports Teams in California

There’s a long list of Major League sports teams in the State of California. I’ve added a quick list below. Click on the city name for more information on betting on sports in that specific city.

• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MLB)
• Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
• Los Angeles FC (MLS)
• LA Galaxy (MLS)
• Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
• Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
• Los Angeles Chargers (NFL)
• Los Angeles Rams (NFL)
• Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
• Los Angeles Kings (NHL)

• Golden State Warriors (NBA)
• Oakland Athletics (MLB)

• Sacramento Kings (NBA)

• San Diego Padres (MLB)

• San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
• San Francisco Giants (MLB)

• San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
• San Jose Sharks (NHL)

Horse Racing in California

It is legal to bet on horses at the track in California. Here are some of the major tracks located in the State, as well as some of their bigger races.

I should note though that you can also place bets for all the races at the following tracks online at either of the offshore sportsbooks I outlined above.

Major Tracks

• Cal-Expo Race Track in Sacramento.
• Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar.
• Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley.
• Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress.
• Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.

Major Races

• Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack. Part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge with a $1,000,000 purse.
• Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park. For three-year-olds with a purse of $1,000,000.
• Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita Park. Ten furlong race for four year olds and up with a purse of $1,000,000.

After the repeal of PASPA in 2018, states had the right to decide if they wanted to legalize and how to regulate gambling in their states. Though some states (like New Jersey and Pennsylvania) forged ahead with legalizing sports betting in retail locations and online, California legalities have been slower fought.

Despite having made various attempts to legalize online betting and sports betting in the state, California so far hasn’t been able to. Though CA online sports betting is currently illegal, the potential tax benefits are likely to sway even those most apathetic to gambling.

California Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is a new way to play on major league sports teams and players. DFS is available in California. Try your sports knowledge skills by playing DFS, read our Monkey Knife Fight review. Play fantasy games by selecting prop contests on a variety sports events like NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL PGA, soccer, and more.

Most Likely CA Online Sports Betting Sites

Though the future of California online sports betting is still up in the air, we can make some educated guesses about what the market will potentially look like. Here are some likely CA online sports betting sites to open in CA after legalization. These are top sports betting sites in other states and have a high probability of gaining access to the California market as future CA online sportsbooks.

FanDuel

FanDuel has both an online sportsbook as well as a daily fantasy app and site. Since fantasy bets are legal in California online sports betting, there is a strong chance that Fanduel will expand once California laws are finally drawn.

Caesars Sportsbook

Since there is a Harrah’s retail casino in California and Harrah’s is owned by Caesars, it is highly likely that Caesars would open a CA online sportsbook once online betting is legalized.

DraftKings

DraftKings are another daily fantasy based site. The success and popularity of this legal form of California online sports betting is a great way for DraftKings to become a California online sportsbook after legalization.

BetMGM

MGM’s largest single retail casino is located in Las Vegas, not far outside the California border. Since MGM already has affiliations with the California Gaming Commission, they could prove a valuable resource and a pretty safe bet for a future BetMGM site.

California Betting Laws

There aren’t currently any laws in California prohibiting online gambling. However, this also means that it is not state sanctioned or regulated. You cannot legally start a gambling business in the state, but technically there are no laws saying you cannot bet online. You will not face any type of prosecution for betting online in California, but you should still be aware of the safety of the sports betting websites you’re using.

States where you can already place an online sports bet today :

Updated on :

Colorado Illinois Indiana Iowa Michigan Nevada New Jersey Pennsylvania Tennessee Virginia West Virginia

California Online Sports Betting: Events and Betting Markets

Since the sports industry is so large, the potential for California online sports betting is endless. From types of wagers to the sheer number of California teams to bet on, there will be plenty of options when California online sports betting is legalized.

Common Types of Bets

The wide variety of sports leaves the market open for a ton of innovation in betting styles.

Straight Bets

These are the most common types of bets in the industry. When the betting line is set, bettors decide whether to bet on the favorite or the underdog. If you choose the favorite, you increase your betting odds. However, the favorite has to win the game with a higher number of points than the point spread for you to cash in. If you choose the underdog, they have to win or at least lose by less than the point spread. Therefore, while your betting odds increase when betting for the favorite, so does the burden of requirements.

Total Line Bets

This is also a popular sports bet. It’s also pretty straightforward. A number is set for the predicted combined final score of both teams. Then, you would guess whether you believe the actual total will be over or under that amount. It can often be a bet made for half a game in sports like football or basketball.

Money Line Bets

Mostly used in baseball and hockey, these types of bets can be a risk as they do not involve a point spread. Meaning the amount you have to bet varies whether you choose to bet on the favorite or the underdog. For instance, if the Yankees are favored to win against the Dodgers, you may see the betting odds described like this: Dodgers (+120), Yankees (-135). This means to bet on the Dodgers, you would only need to put down $100 and you could potentially win $120. Whereas, you would need to bet $135 on the Yankees to win $100.

Parlay Bets

These are probably the highest risk bets out there. They involve grouping together multiple bets together and can often be bets that last an entire season. There is very little room for error in these types of bets because you need to win all of your separate bets to see any money.

Teaser Bets

This bet is a bit of a twist on a parlay. It is not as high risk and also not as high reward. Bets are still grouped together like a parlay, but you are able to tweak the point spread in this style of betting. Making it a bit less lucrative and a bit more controlled.

Head-to-Head Bets

These bets are made on non-team sports. In sports such as golf and NASCAR, these bets simply represent which of two competitors will win. Often, a money line will be attached as a way to handicap a race. Though this is a popular betting style, it’s also a hard gamble to make considering the size of the field.

Most Popular Sports to Bet On

California Online Sports Betting Laws

• Football (both NFL and college)
• Basketball (NBA)
• Tennis
• Hockey (NHL)
• Baseball (MLB)
• Soccer
• Golf
• Boxing
• NASCAR
• Formula 1

Popular California Events

• Auto Club 400 - this is the only NASCAR event held in Southern California. It’s held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana and usually takes place in March.
• Vans U.S. Open of Surfing - this is known as the biggest surfing event in the world. It’s held in Huntington Beach over nine days in July/August.
• AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM- this golfing event started in 1937 with an idea from Bing Crosby. It’s a fun event held in February involving golf professionals and A-list celebrities so it draws a huge crowd of in person as well as at home spectators.
• BNP Paribas Open - held in March, this is the largest international tennis tournament other than the four Grand Slams.
• Sea Otter Classic - known as a “celebration of cycling”, this Monterrey based biking event features a wide range of cycling opportunities.

Best Teams to Bet On

Below is a list of the Major League teams in California. California has nearly twice the amount of major league teams than any other state. All of them present great betting opportunities.

Baseball

• Los Angeles Angels
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Oakland Athletics
• San Diego Padres
• San Francisco Giants

Basketball

• Golden State Warriors
• Los Angeles Clippers
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Sacramento Kings
• Los Angeles Sparks

Football

• Los Angeles Chargers
• Los Angeles Rams
• Oakland Raiders
• San Francisco 49ers

Hockey

• Anaheim Ducks
• Los Angeles Kings
• San Jose Sharks

Soccer

• LA Galaxy
• Los Angeles FC
• San Jose Earthquakes

Common Payment Options

For most states, there are a few common payment methods in online sports betting. Here are some of the more popular options.

• Debit/Credit cards
• Paypal
• Prepaid Cards
• Cash at a retail partner’s sportsbook
• ACH/Wire Transfer

CA Online Sports Betting FAQ

Are sports betting sites legal in the United States?

In the United States, there was a federal ban on sports betting from 1992 to 2018. Known as PASPA, this law made it impossible for states to make their own laws about sports betting. Unless they had been grandfathered in and were already partaking in sports betting before 1992.

When PASPA was overturned in 2018, states regained control of being able to make laws individually. There are legal sports betting sites in the US, however, you should be aware of what state you’re in and what laws apply before betting.

What do I need to register at an online betting site in California?

Registering for an account with most sports betting websites is pretty easy and usually can be done in a couple of minutes. You will have to give your full name, address and date of birth to prove you are at least 21 years of age. You will also have to give an email address as well as some account information like username and password. Additionally, you will have to choose your payment preferences.

Is it safe to deposit money at sports betting sites in California?

Since the California online sports betting market is still unregulated, choosing a top sports betting site with a good reputation for safety is important. The best way to find out whether a particular sports betting website is safe is to do some research. There are plenty of reviews out there for bettors to read and educate themselves with. Choose a website with a good reputation and you should feel very secure about depositing your money.

Can I set betting limits?

Sportsbook Betting California

Yes. On most betting sites you can set deposit limits, loss limits and transfer limits. This helps you limit your losses and betting liability. You can decide whether you want these limits to apply on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis.

Final Thoughts on Betting in California

Though it’s still unregulated now, California online sports betting has some great groundwork for legalization. Since other states have been paving the way, there are also some great established online sports betting sites to potentially open in CA. Though California online sports betting is currently all offshore and unregulated, bettor’s look forward to potential future California online sportsbooks. In addition to serving a purpose for vested CA bettors, legalizing CA online sports betting also stands to bring in tons of tax revenue for the state. A win win solution for the state!