Is Online Sports Betting Legal in California?

Is online gambling legal in California? Online gambling is illegal in California, but it could be legal as early as 2023 if an online sports betting initiative backed by major U.S. sportsbooks like BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel succeeds on the November 2022 ballot.

The initiative recently collected enough signatures to qualify. It would set the tax rate at 10% and each mobile operator would be required to pay a $100 million licensing fee upfront. An operator has to be licensed in at least 10 states to qualify (or be operating in five states and running 12 casinos).

The other referendum that has qualified for the ballot was submitted by the state's Native American tribes and legalizes sports wagering on tribal lands and state-licensed horse racing tracks only.

Benefits of Legal Online Sports Betting in CA

When it comes to legal online sports betting, California as a state would benefit from California sportsbook apps in a massive uptick in revenue. Industry estimates are that California legal sports betting will generate $1 billion annually. With legal online gambling, California would see that revenue total grow to $3 billion. The revenue from the Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support (online initiative) would generate roughly $500 million for housing and mental health programs.

The benefit for bettors is also easy to see: Slogging all the way to a retail sportsbook is not how to gamble on sports in California in the 21st Century. With online sportsbooks, California bettors would be offered convenience, security and opportunity. You can bet from the comfort of your home or on the go and benefit from great features, such as live betting.

Top Sportsbooks Likely to Come to California

California is viewed as the Holy Grail of U.S. sports betting states. The potential earnings for a sports betting app in California would be massive. If California online betting laws are included in legalized sports betting, California will see a rapid influx of all the major online sports betting sites. Those undoubtedly would include:

DraftKings California

Originally established in the daily fantasy sports realm, DraftKings sportsbook was quick to pivot into sports betting once it was legalized in the USA in 2018. Always among the first sports betting sites to arrive on the scene, expect DraftKings California betting app to show up quickly if CA online sports betting is a reality. It's known for its fabulous array of promotional offerings and its lucrative signup bonus. DraftKings' sports betting markets are also massive.

• Read our DraftKings California Sportsbook Review
• Claim the DraftKings California Promo Code

FanDuel California

Like DraftKings, FanDuel California sportsbook app cut its teeth in the world of DFS. It was also fast to adapt to the world of legal, regulated sports betting in the US. If California opts to make gambling apps legal, FanDuel sports betting California would soon become a thing. FanDuel merged with British and Irish betting super power Paddy Power/Betfair to form Flutter Entertainment. FanDuel's promotional offers, boosted odds and betting markets are all first class.

• Read our FanDuel California Sportsbook Review
• Claim the FanDuel California Promo Code

BetMGM California

The ideal marriage of old-school gambling with cutting-edge technology, BetMGM is the online arm of MGM Resorts. It has been in the gambling business since the 1980s. When it comes to sports betting, California players will be well-versed with the MGM brand from ventures to nearby Las Vegas. BetMGM California app would bring a deep menu of parlay wagering, as well as its boosted odds.

• Read our BetMGM California Sportsbook Review
• Claim the BetMGM California Promo Code

Caesars California

Caesars recently completed a rebranding of all the William Hill sportsbooks in the USA, converting them into Caesars Sportsbooks. In order to welcome new customers, the Caesars CA sportsbook betting app is offering new players access to a risk-free first bet worth as much as $5,000. Like MGM, Caesars would be a brand well known to California sports betting enthusiasts who frequent Las Vegas.

• Read our Caesars California Sportsbook Review
• Claim the Caesars California Promo Code

WynnBET California

Another popular Las Vegas betting name, Wynn Resorts took their time in designing its mobile sports betting app. Now that it's here, it is rapidly expanding its brand across the USA. When it comes to opening a sportsbook, California will definitely be on the WynnBET list. However, without online betting, California won't see WynnBET, it's California WynnBET app is 100% online and mobile.

• Read our WynnBET California Sportsbook Review
• Claim the WynnBET California Promo Code

TwinSpires California

The Twin Spires of Churchill Downs were made famous by the Kentucky Derby. Now, the owners of Churchill Downs are hoping it can do the same for its sports betting product. It rebooted what was known as BetAmerica to TwinSpires in order to further enhance that familiarity with its brand. With horse tracks holding a significant place in the proposed California sports betting bill, working with TwinSpires California app and its vast offering on online horse racing wagering would seem a natural fit.

• Read our TwinSpires California Sportsbook Review
• Claim the TwinSpires California Promo Code

MaximBET California

In April, Maxim, the popular gentlemen's magazine, partnered with the Carousel Group, a privately-held licensed sports betting and casino operator, to create their own sports-betting brand called MaximBET. They've already secured market access deals in New Jersey, Colorado, Indiana and Iowa. Certainly, for the MaximBET California sports betting app, California will be a prize destination.

• Read our MaximBet California Sportsbook Review
• Claim the MaximBet California Promo Code

Unibet California

Launched in Sweden in 1999, Unibet has grown into a worldwide sports betting giant with over 16 million customers. Owned by the Kindred Group, Unibet California betting app already holds a USA foothold with sportsbooks in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. When California legalize sports betting, Unibet will be a site worth considering.

• Read our Unibet California Sportsbook Review
• Claim the Unibet California Promo Code

Bet365 California

A site that started out with a few retail shops in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Bet365 betting app has grown to be a gambling colossus. It employs more than 4,000 people and generate nearly $3 billion in annual revenue. If Bet365 California comes to the Golden State, it will be a contender for the best sports betting app California has to offer.

• Read our bet365 California Sportsbook Review
• Claim the bet365 California Promo Code

Sports Illustrated California

In June 2021, Sports Illustrated and Sport 888, one of the world’s leading online betting and gaming companies, announced an exclusive partnership to develop Sports Illustrated online sports betting and iGaming products in the United States. This is including the launch of SI Sportsbook in Colorado. Further states will be added. If mobile sports betting California comes to fruition, the SI Sportsbook will want in on the action.

Bally Bet California

Bally created a nationwide presence for its brand in March 2021. It partnered with Sinclair Broadcasting to launch Bally Sports, a collection of 19 regional sports networks. These stations include Bally Sports SoCal & West. Along with delivering regional sports programming, Bally utilizes the platform to promote their sports betting product. Once there's legal sports betting, California can expect Bally Bet to arrive.

Will Mobile Sports Betting Apps Be Available in CA?

The could be now that an online sports betting initiative has qualified for the November 2022 ballot. The DraftKings, BetMGM and FanDuel Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support referendum joins the Native American's retail-only sports betting initiative as the options for Californians this fall. The difference in revenue is startling: Online sports betting is projected to generate roughly $3 billion for the state, while the retail-only option figure is $1 million.

While New Jersey betting market is handling nearly $1 billion per month in sports bets, New York's entire handle for two years of retail sports betting was $31.1 million.

Bonuses & Promotions at CA Sports Betting Sites

If online gambling is legalized, California sports betting is likely to feature three types of sign-up bonuses for new players. The most popular form of welcome bonus offers are risk-free first bets and matching first deposit bonuses.

With a matching first deposit, players are provided a match to a percentage of the amount of their first deposit. This could be as much as 100% but it is generally accompanied by a maximum allowable amount that rarely exceeds $1,000. With a risk-free first bet, the first time a player places a wager, the sportsbook in California would agree to a specific amount that would be returned to that player's account as a bet credit if the initial wager loses.

A third sign-up bonus is a no deposit bonus. These are less common and usually offer small stipends, rarely more than $25.

Features of a CA Sports Betting Site

If online sports betting in California were to be legalized, bettors should look for the following characteristics to be present for a site to be considered the best online sportsbook California has to offer.

Intuitive User Interface

The best sportsbook in California should deliver ease of use with its betting site. Navigating the web page will be a breeze. All of the sports available would be easily accessed due to a website layout that is clean, responsive and easy to follow.

List of Betting Odds

When it comes to how to sports bet in California, Job 1 will be to ensure that the betting odds are posted quickly. They also must be competitive with other sites. Savvy betting online California sports bettors will look to shop odds across a variety of sportsbooks to gain the best price for their wager.

Live Betting and/or Live Streaming

The leading California sports betting apps will all deliver a robust menu of live betting options. Their markets will cover a variety of sports, and the bet types will be plentiful. They will also be gathered in their own area on the site, so that they can be accessed quickly with one click. California sports gambling sites will also provide an extensive card of live streaming of sporting events. Live betting isn't going to be much good if a player isn't able to watch the event while betting on it.

Great Customer Service

If online sports betting becomes legal in CA, when will likely be wondering how can they bet on sports in California? It's a question that the best online sports betting California sites will be ready, willing and able to answer. That's because to be considered a top CA sportsbook, the site will be able to deliver customer service in a flash. They will provide this service via a number of methods - live chat, email, social media, telephone, even old-school snail mail.

Types of Sports Bets Offered in California

When it comes to legal online betting, California sites will be expected to deliver a plethora of bet types in order to gain consideration as one of the best online betting sites for California. These will include:

Moneylines: A straight wager on the outcome of an event based upon either a $100 wager or a wager to win $100. The favorite is designated by a negative number such as -165. This means a player would need to bet $165 to realize a $100 profit. Underdogs are assigned positive numbers like +130. In this case, it indicates that the bettor will gain a $130 profit from a $100 wager.

Point Spreads: In order to balance the books, online sports betting in California will see sites offer point spreads on events. Again, favorites are assigned negative numbers and underdogs positive numbers. So, if the Los Angeles Chargers were +5 against the San Francisco 49ers in NFL odds, California bettors would get five points if they bet on the Chargers. That means if LA wins the game or loses by less than five points, the bet is a winner. By contrast, a play on the 49ers would require them to win by more than five points.

Totals: When sport betting in California, players will see numbers including in that may read O 39.5 or U 39.5. This is the total on the game, commonly referred to as the over/under. A site such as FanDuel California would offer a total on each event. This is the number of points they anticipate being scored during the game. Bettors wager that the teams involved will either go over or under that total.

Parlays: Parlays would be the dessert on the California sports betting menu. They will look very tasty but seldom will partaking in them be very satisfying. Parlays are the combination of multiple bets into one wager. The more legs contained in a parlay, the greater the potential payout. It's a method of gaining a big score off a small stake. The drawback is that all of the legs must come in for the bet to be a winner, and the more legs, the greater the house edge.

Prop bets: If parlays are the dessert tray, then prop bets are the potato chips. They're fun, tasty and you can't bet just one. Props are wagers on specific outcomes within a game. It could be which team scores first or which player makes that score. It might be a wager on who wins the coin flip. There are also cross-sport props. For example, when you can bet on sports in California, you might be able to wager on which might be higher during a specific night of action: 3-point field goals made by LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers or goals scored by the Los Angeles Kings.

Futures: To the patient go the spoils. That could be the mantra of future betting. Also known as outright wagers, bettors are getting action on outcomes on specific events that aren't resolved until the conclusion of the season. It could be a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series. It might be action on Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts to be named National League MVP. Or, for NFL Futures, it might be on who will win the next Super Bowl.

Teaser: A lesser-known option is the teaser. A teaser enables a player to add or subtract a set number of points from the point spreads or totals on two or more games, modifying a traditional parlay. However, the tradeoff is that the payout will be reduced. As well, all bets must succeed in order to cash in a winner.

What Sports Leagues Can I Bet On in California?

Another reason why so many are eager to see online sports betting in California is the sheer volume of betting opportunities present within the state. California is home to the most professional sports teams of any state in the nation. This includes five MLB California teams, four NBA teams, three NFL franchises, a trio of NHL teams, three MLS clubs and one WNBA team. In college sports, there are high-profile schools such as UCLA, USC, Stanford and the University of California.

When Can I Play Daily Fantasy Sports in California?

Technically speaking, daily fantasy sports falls into a grey area in the California laws. It's not been officially legalized, but it's not necessarily illegal, either. Can you use DraftKings in California? Is playing FanDuel CA legitimate? When it comes to DFS, the answer is yes. Californians can play DFS at either of these sites on NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and college sports, among other sports. In 2015, the California State House introduced legislation designed to tax and regulate DFS, but the bill died in the California Senate.

How to Sign up and Place a Sports Bet in California

Sports betting is easy . . . well, at least signing up for a sports betting account is a relatively painless process. For starters, players will want to choose the California Online Sportsbook that fits their needs. Before joining any site, get to know the new betting platform. They'll want to ensure that it offers the sports markets and betting types they desire.

Once that's confirmed, then it's time for the signup process to begin. All sites will display a signup link prominently on their site. Click on that button go get things underway.

1. First, players will be asked to input their first and last name
2. More personal information, such as date of birth, gender, home address, email address, last four digits of their SSN and phone number will also be required
3. A unique username and password must be created
4. The info will need to be verified. This can be done by providing a copy of a photo ID document such as a driver's license or passport, or a utility bill that matches the address provided
5. Once verified, the next step will be to choose a method to fund the account and to deposit money into the account, assuring to opt in to all signup bonus offers
6. When that step is completed, players will be ready to place their first bet

How To Pick the Best CA Sport Betting Sites

Once it's no longer necessary to ask is gambling legal in California, these are some of the other questions that players should be asking before placing a bet. When California online sports betting sites launch, Bookies.com will review them all based on the following criteria in order to recommend the best ones.

How are CA Sports Betting Sites Regulated?

The California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) is the state regulatory body for all gaming matters. The California Gambling Control Act (CGA) sets out, as part of the state's Business and Professions Code, the licensing terms for entities involved in the gaming market. The GCA will be charged with setting out the law applicable to all sports betting within the state of California.

CA Sports Betting Sites Reputation

Once is sports betting legal in California no longer is an issue, bettors can anticipate the enormous potential of the California market to bring a massive number of sportsbooks to the state. The arrival of numerous betting entities will require research to determine the best options. Bookies.com will offer analysis on all the top betting sites and let bettors know which sites hold sterling reputations within the industry.

Accessibility

It doesn't matter how pretty a sports betting website is if the site is slow to respond. California sports betting players will want to get their action down and get on with their day. The last thing they want to be doing is staring at a spinning wheel while waiting for a betting site to upload.

Reliability

Does a betting site deliver on its promises? Are its odds competitive? Will the betting markets and bet types on the be robust? All the answers to these questions must be yes in order to gain recognition among our best sports betting sites in California.

Site and Mobile Experience

A betting website should be clean, smooth and functional. Sports bettors aren't looking to be entertained. They are seeking information to aid in getting action on events. The same qualities must be present in a mobile site. More players are playing with devices than ever before. If a mobile app isn't responsive and supplying the same level of quality as the desktop site, Bookies.com will let you know.

Generous and Ongoing Sports Bet Bonuses

Every betting site will provide a handsome sign up bonus to entice new players through the door. Just like any other industry, though, it's what they do once they've got you that makes them stand out in the crowd. The top California sports betting sites will keep on delivering, with promotions such as boosted odds, reload bonuses, free bets and parlay insurance.

Payment Options

The best California betting sites won't skimp in any area. Banking is one area that absolutely must be prolific in options. Funding options should include credit and debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, online banking, bank transfer, even cryptocurrency.

Variety of Games to Bet On

All California sports betting sites will provide the lines on the major sports. But how deep does their offering go. Will there be alternative lines, for instance? And what about niche sports? If a player wants to bet on rugby, cricket or eSports, are those options available?

Better Odds

Every site promises competitive odds but not all of them deliver on that promise. Bettors will shop odds, so the top sites will provide odds quickly and make them comparable to rival sites.

Deposits and Withdrawals

Along with offering numerous deposit and withdrawal methods, the top betting sites will ensure that both are resolved in rapid fashion. They will make it abundantly clear how quickly these transactions will be completed and whether there are any fees attached.

Payout Process

One easy way to identify a top betting site is how promptly and efficiently it completes a withdrawal request. There are sites out there that seem to forget whose money it is when it comes time to make a withdrawal.

Security at Online Sportsbooks in California

Sharing personal information over the internet is always a scary process. Players can rest assured that the best betting sites in California will feature the latest in security and encryption technology.

Top 5 California Sports Teams to Bet On

No state goes as deep in pro sports offerings as California. There are 19 major pro sports franchises situated within the state.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Experiencing a game in Chavez Ravine at Dodger Stadium is one of those items that every sports fan wants to check off their bucket list. The Dodgers hold a rich tradition in MLB. They always put a competitive team on the diamond and seem to be in contention every season.

Los Angeles Lakers

From Wilt to Kareem to Magic to Kobe and Shaq and now to LeBron, the Lakers forever live up to their Showtime reputation. Mediocrity is not acceptable to those who do the purple and gold. The Lakers will always be among the best bets in the NBA.

San Francisco Giants

Like the Dodgers, the Giants own a rich tradition in MLB history. The Giants and Dodgers began baseball's oldest rivalry decades ago in New York. When the Dodgers headed to California, it only made sense for the Giants to follow suit.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers not only dominated the NFL in the days of Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Bill Walsh, they revolutionized the way the game was played via their West Coast offense. Today, the 49ers are again among the NFL's top contenders.

Golden State Warriors

With Steph Curry leading the way, the Warriors set a new standard for the NBA's salary cap era by playing in five successive NBA finals. So dominant were the Warriors that many of the NBA's top players flocked to play in the Bay Area.

California Sports Betting History

While the question of when will California legalize sports betting remains unanswered, the fact of the matter is the Californians have been legally betting on certain sports for nearly a century.

1872: California outlawed casino games. All forms of gambling that profited the house were banned.

1933: California legalizes betting on horse racing. Today, horse betting in California remains popular. Santa Anita and Del Mar have both played host to the Breeders' Cup.

1976: Bingo is legalized in the state. California law stipulates that all bingo games must benefit charities.

1984: California voters passed Proposition 37, the California State Lottery Act of 1984, which authorized the creation of a state lottery. The first tickets were sold on October 3, 1985.

2001: Casino gambling is legalized in California. All betting establishments must be tribal casinos.

2015: A bill to regulate daily fantasy sports passes in the California State House but dies in the Senate.

2021: An initiative is added to the November 2022 California election ballot to vote on whether to legalizing sports betting in the state. If passed, the initiative will permit retail sports betting in California, however a lawsuit was filed in late December 2021 seeking to invalidate the initiative.

2022: An online sports betting initiative backed by DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM qualfies for the November 2022 ballot.

Responsible Gambling

The California Office of Problem Gambling (OPG) is dedicated to promoting awareness and prevention of gambling disorder and making treatment available to those negatively impacted by problem gambling behavior. The OPG provides training related to the treatment of gambling disorders for counselors throughout the state. The OPG’s prevention program is comprised of a helpline, training and technical assistance, public awareness campaigns, and research.