Betting Online California

While a small but growing number of states in the US have begun to offer sports betting to residents via fully licensed land-based and online operators, California remains resolutely opposed to legalization of this globally popular pastime.

So is there a possibility that web-based sports betting will eventually be given the green light in California, or is it a lost cause?

Current state of play

Unpicking the complex issue of sports betting’s legality in California can be tricky, as there is a degree of ambiguity involved.

As explained in detail here in a sports betting California guide, while there is some will among politicians and lawmakers to legalize this practice state-wide, certain factions are still entirely opposed to the idea, creating something of a stalemate.

MyBookie is another place which offers Sports betting online. They are newer than the others but already have a great reputation online. They 50% signup bonus up to $1,000, a 100% casino signup. Best California Betting Sites. The above betting sites are open to customers from California. It’s projected that sports betting in California could be worth $2.5 billion per year (including online betting revenue) in California - which is wild to think that there is even an ounce of hesitation from elected. Moreover, California online betting sites usually offer their own racebook allowing pari-mutuel wagering on every major horse race from the Kentucky Derby to the Breeders’ Cup. Plus, most sportsbooks have. While the future of online sports betting in California is not entirely certain, it’s a safe bet to say that legal sports betting will arrive in the state sometime in the next few years. The Supreme Court overturning PASPA was a game-changer and studies clearly show a significant number of Californians.

The issue is further muddied by the fact that some forms of pseudo-gambling, including fantasy sports leagues, are not explicitly banned, yet carry similar hallmarks to sports betting, which could allow for a gateway to legitimization and regulation.

Furthermore there are exceptions; casinos and sportsbooks operating on tribal land within the state were given the green light to operate legally over two decades ago, and horse racing has been legal since the 1930s, although betting is only permitted on the premises of race courses, rather than online.

Add to this the 2018 decision made by the Supreme Court which effectively gave states the go-ahead to embrace sports betting, and California’s current regulations start to look decidedly outdated.

Experts estimate that Americans collectively wager $150 billion annually via betting services which are technically illegal, or at the very least not officially licensed in their state or region. This represents a huge chunk of money that is not being taxed, leaving states out of pocket and also preventing players from accessing the protections they would be afforded by fully sanctioned online sports betting.

Future prospects for legalization

Based on the fairly regular attempts made to change the law on sports betting in California, including one made most recently in mid-2020, there is obviously a degree of enthusiasm in some camps of the state government to see this form of entertainment brought out of the darkness and into the light.

The aforementioned rights held by tribal land owners to run casino and sports betting on their reservations are also proving to be a sticking point. If online sports betting across a range of sports was adopted state-wide, rather than in these specific areas, then the impact on tribal economies would be huge; or at least, this is the argument.

As we speak, a petition that pushes to approve sports betting for legalization and regulation in California is once again making its way through various government offices. Whether or not this will succeed where its forebears have failed is uncertain.

It all comes down to whether or not there is enough unified political will to push through such a bill, and a host of factors are involved in determining this. The economic advantages that would come with legalizing online sports betting, with tax revenues sure to spike as a result, have to be weighed against the moral and ethical objections that certain people have to gambling itself.

This leaves California’s residents in a state of uncertain limbo. At this point, while it seems like sports betting will eventually be legalized in some form, when this will happen and whether or not it will include online services or strictly be limited to land-based venues remains to be seen. It may be frustrating, but this is the reality of the way that the political machine works, especially when such a large and divisive issue is up for debate.

Interim options

Online Betting In California

In spite of California’s reticence with regards to legalizing online sports betting, citizens of the state do have a few ways to place bets and enjoy other forms of gambling in the meantime.

For a lot of people, visiting Vegas across the border in Nevada is their first port of call for accessing games of chance in an entirely above-board way. Likewise the betting options at tribal reservations and horse racing tracks can help you scratch this particular itch.

In terms of online sports betting, there are sites hosted overseas which cater to American customers, although since this is not officially supported or regulated, it is a bit of a risky business using them.

Ultimately it seems like patience is needed by Californian fans of sports betting. It could be a year or two before clarity on this issue is provided, but as more states choose to legalize online gambling, California’s hand may be forced.

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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)

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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.

Sports Betting Sites Online California

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

Is Online Gambling Legal In California

• 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?

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

California Online Betting Legal

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!