Betting Ca
If you’ve been trying to identify the best California sports betting sites, your search is over.
The legal gambling age In California is typically 18, although most casinos do require bettors to be 21 in order to gamble in person at a bricks-and-mortar casino or use a sports betting site.
Horse racing is a big deal in California – the home of Del Mar, Hollywood Park and Santa Anita, making horse betting a huge revenue stream left untapped. So, what does all of this mean? Californian residents love to bet and legal sports betting in California will open up new jobs and significant revenue streams for the Californian government. The state of California is no stranger to mega horse racing events. Venues in the area host some of the biggest events in the world. But one of the driving forces behind the popularity of horse racing in California and other parts of the world is betting. Whenever California goes live for legal mobile sports betting, there is little doubt that the biggest players in the sports betting space will look to enter the state given its population and rich sports history. Here are some of the top sportsbooks available that could go live in California when the time comes. For many years, lawmakers in California didn’t even want to talk about the legalization of sports betting. In 2017, things took a turn. That year, Assembly member Adam Gray introduced an amendment to California’s constitution to regulate the sports betting market. This amendment got much more realistic just a year later.
Here, we’ve established the leading online sportsbooks for players from the Golden State.
| Rank | DE Betting Site | Exclusive Bonus | Get Started | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | BetUS | 100% Up To$2,500 | Visit Site | Visit Site |
| #2 | MyBookie | 50% Up To$1,000 | Visit Site | Visit Site |
| #3 | BetNow | 100% Up To$1,000 | Visit Site | Visit Site |
| #4 | Bovada Sports | 50% Up To$250 | Visit Site | Visit Site |
| #5 | BetOnline Sports | 50% Up To$1,000 | Visit Site | Visit Site |
Compiling our rankings for the top CA betting sites is a team effort. And we have a great team. We’re all passionate sports bettors with lots of experience of gambling online. We know exactly what to look for when trying to find the best sports betting sites, and you can benefit from that.
Betting with the best online sportsbooks and bookmakers is a great experience. The same cannot be said for some other sports gambling sites on the web. So, if you want to get the best from your online sports betting, our list of the best sports betting sites for California is exactly what you need.
Pick one or more of these sites for placing your real money sports wagers and you can’t go wrong. They’re all top quality. Importantly, they’re also very reputable and completely trustworthy.
Our Method For Ranking CA Sports Betting Sites
We’ve developed an advanced system for ranking online sports betting sites that allows us to recommend only those sites that meet the highest of standard.
We evaluate numerous gambling sites in a number of key areas, and the sites that receive the highest marks across the board are ranked accordingly.
This is something of a simplified explanation, but that’s it in a nutshell. Here are a few more details on some of the things we look at and why.
As you might imagine, many gambling sites are specifically designed for residents of certain countries. When we are looking for the best California betting sites, we seek out operators that actively cater for people in the United States.
This isn’t as much of a no-brainer as it may seem, because there are online gamblers in other English-speaking areas like Great Britain and Australia. While it’s true that you can understand the content perfectly, the website’s sports betting opportunities might not be consistent with your preferences.
Punters in these countries are primarily interested in gaming options that are popular there. And the preferences for Americans are quite different in some instances.
There’s also the matter of currency. Exchange rates are different, so a player in California should wager on a site that primarily uses the US dollar.
Keep in mind, also, that there are various service providers that facilitate financial transactions over the internet but don’t offer banking methods for certain locations.
We take all of this into account when we develop our ratings. It’ll be easy for Americans to deposit funds at any of the best California sports betting sites that we have identified.
There are multiple different options, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. They may also accept gift cards and ACH transfers.
It’s just as easy to withdraw your winnings, and most methods provide fast turnarounds on withdrawal requests. If you use Bitcoin, the transfers are usually instant.
You might be wondering if there’s anything that stops an online sportsbook from simply disappearing with your money. This is a legitimate concern, because a site could easily engage in sketchy practices.
But when you stick to the sports betting websites on our list of preferred operators, you won’t have to worry.
We stay up to date on the requirements for online gambling licenses around the world. This is one of the most important factors we consider to determine the legitimacy of a given site.
Sometimes you need to discuss an issue or concern with a representative of your chosen sports gambling site. This is another of the great strengths of the online bookmaker and sportsbooks that we recommend. They all provide good customer service
You can speak with a representative by phone. Some are even available to take calls around the clock. Live chat is another great option, along with email correspondence. These sites respond to inquiries very quickly and focus on timely and efficient resolutions.
Longevity and Reputation
Because it’s costly to obtain a reputable online gambling license, the people behind betting sites have to think in terms of long-term profit. Of course, you don’t start a business because you expect to hang around for a year or two then shut down.
As we all know, a lot of businesses with passionate, motivated owners simply fall by the wayside every day. The online sports betting industry is no different in this regard.
Having the right license is a huge factor for us to consider, but the test of time may be even more important. When an online sportsbook has been holding its ground for an extended period of time, you know that they’re likely doing everything they can to retain their customer base and build on it.
An established reputation is also a key indicator. When people share their opinions about a site, you can come away with a profound impression.
There are message boards designed to serve the online gambling community, and our people visit them regularly to keep up. We also have several professional connections within the industry, and all relevant information is shared within our network.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you were given hundreds or thousands of dollars after walking into a brick and mortar casino for the first time? That sounds like a far-fetched notion, but it’s routinely done at the CA betting sites we listed above.
After receiving your sign-up bonus, the extra incentives don’t disappear. The best sports betting sites continue to post promotions that center around upcoming tournaments or events.
You don’t have to limit yourself to a single bonus as a new player. If you make deposits at more than one online sportsbook, you can rake in several bonuses.
Online Betting Options for Different Sports
When you make a deposit and place your bets at one of the top California betting websites, you’ll have a wide range of sporting events and wagering options. Though it’s a virtual environment, the offerings are pretty much identical to the general scheme you would find at any Las Vegas sportsbook.
Of course, some people have never ventured into a physical sportsbook. If you’re one of them, you wouldn’t know what to expect, so we will provide the rundown.
In the US, the sport that takes the most betting action is American football. Nearly 40% of people polled named football as their favorite sport, with basketball as a distant second.
Most people make their football bets against the point spread, but this is not your only option. You could bet on the point spread, the moneyline, or totals.
At the best California sports betting sites there are also teaser bets, in-game wagering, and futures bets. Proposition bets may be available over the course of the season.
Typically, you’re able to wager on all the NFL games, and the majority of NCCAA football games.
The NBA and NCAA Basketball
Once you review and understand the different types of wagers, you have a solid foundation, you’ll notice that the same options are offered for other sports with some variations.
College and NBA basketball bets are identical to football with just a small tweak. In basketball, there are 6-point, 6 ½-point, and 7 ½-point teasers available. The fewer points you take, the higher the potential payout.
In basketball, the teaser points you can choose from are not that high, typically between 4 and 6 points.
There are some similarities and a few differences when it comes to Major League Baseball betting conventions. Straight bets on sides are traditionally made on the moneyline, but when there’s a very big favorite, you’re looking at a negative value.
One way to get around this would be to play a parlay with multiple teams that are very likely to win their games. Even if all of the teams are laying big minus money individually, when you combine multiple betting interests, the payout odds become much more palatable.
While there’s no betting against a variable spread that is determined based on the matchup, there’s a run line option. This will always be set at 1 ½ runs, so the favorite must win by at least two runs, and a bet on the underdog would be a winner even if they lose by a single run.
As for the anticipated payout on a winning run line bet, sportsbooks set a moneyline that varies depending on the perceived strength of each side.
National Hockey League
Basketball and football are pretty much right in line when it comes to betting structures, and the same could be said for baseball and hockey.
NHL options mirror the Major League Baseball wagers that are available. This would include the run line, but for hockey it is called the “puck line.”
The best California sports betting sites post lines on a number of different sports outside of the “big four.” NASCAR fans are as passionate as it gets, and online sportsbooks post odds on each driver to win the respective events. You can also place wagers on major IndyCar races.
Odds on the winner of major tennis tournaments and golf tournaments are posted, along with boxing, MMA fights, and soccer. It’s interesting to note that any site that calls the sport “soccer” rather than “football” is almost certainly designed for the US market.
State-Regulated Sports Betting in California
Unless you’ve been living under the proverbial rock, you should be aware of the fact that a Supreme Court ruling on sports gambling was handed down in 2018 that had a profound affect on gambling laws in the United States.
To refresh your memory, it started with the state of New Jersey legalizing the practice in 2012. The voters decided they were in favor of sportsbooks in the existing casinos in Atlantic City along with the state-licensed horse racing tracks.
The major sports leagues and the NCAA have always been adamantly against sports gambling, because they are concerned about game fixing and point shaving.
These entities filed a lawsuit to prevent sportsbooks from opening in the Garden State. As a premise, they used the federal law that prohibits wagering on sporting events that was enacted in 1992. They were victorious in the lower courts, and the state’s attorneys filed appeals.
That’s how the matter made its way to the highest court in the land, where the Supreme Court found it to be unconstitutional.
They specifically cited the 10th Amendment that ensures the rights for states to make their own laws as long as there is no constitutional infringement.
Since New Jersey already had a law spelling out the regulatory parameters, they had sportsbooks up and running shortly after the landmark ruling. Several other states followed their lead, but the vast majority of them have not taken advantage of this opportunity.
California is not at the top of the “next up” list for legalization of brick and mortar sportsbooks, but many legislators are supportive. There’s going to be a sports gaming referendum on the ballot in 2020, so voters will decide if their state should move forward.
If they pass the referendum, there will be another time-consuming phase that will delay the opening of sportsbooks. All the regulatory details must be hashed out and agreed upon by the legislature and the governor, so Californians will not be visiting local sportsbooks any time soon.
There’s a lot to digest on this page, so we will leave you with some summarized takeaways. We conducted in-depth research to evaluate all of the contenders while evaluating the best California sports betting sites. Our list has been carefully prepared based on relevant data.
You can trust the sites on every level, and they go the extra mile to provide world-class customer service. All of these online sportsbooks are specifically designed to suit the needs of American players.
States have the right to regulate and license sports betting facilities, and California is slowly moving in that direction, but it will take a while. And in the meantime, our approved sites will always be available to take your real money sports wagers.
Sports Betting in California is not yet legal and licensed but there is good news ahead. The Golden State, has tried to regulate online betting multiple times in the past and are likely to try again soon.
As the biggest state in the US by far, it’s inclusion in authorizing regulated sports wagering in California would mean an approximate $2.5 billion market.
However, the state is heavily dominated by tribal casinos and the political landscape is complicated, which means that the efforts to legalize online sports betting have met great opposition.
For now, all online betting is made on offshore casinos or on Daily Fantasy Sports, which is legal since it hasn’t been classified as real money gambling.
To bet on sports in California isn’t prohibited, it is not expressly regulated either, which makes it a grey area at best.
Online Sports Betting California Updates
While industry experts say that there won’t be any change in California sports betting legislation soon, there has been some developments recently.
When and if online will become legalized in the Golden State sportsbook operators such as BetMGM, DraftKings and William Hill, together with all the other major online sportsbooks, are likely to apply for CA online sports betting licenses.
BetMGM is one the fastest growing sportsbooks in the US and likely to enter California once there is a licensing process in place for sports gambling. Read our BetMGM California review.
FanDuel needs no further introduction. The kings of DFS and sportsbook (where legalized) are just like DraftKings almost guaranteed to enter the market once regulators authorize sports online.
DraftKings is widely known in California through their DFS product. Their sportsbook will most certainly be one of the first to open up for CA customers. Read our DraftKings California review.
William Hill is one of the most active sportsbook brands in the US with casino sportsbook partnerships all across the US. William Hill is one of the UKs oldest and most well established sportsbooks with over 100 years of history of sports betting. Read our William Hill California review.
California Sports Betting Hearing – January 8th, 2020
On January 8th, California took a great leap towards opening up the discussion about legal sports wagering in the Golden State. The Joint Assembly and Senate Governmental Organization Committees held a meeting in the state capital, where they invited industry experts to discuss what a legal California sports betting market could look like.
Research expert Chris Grove said that the California market could be worth $2.5 billion per year given that mobile sports betting would be included. However, Grove tweeted after the hearing that he could “feel” the obstruction in the room, and that he didn’t believe that California would legalize online betting in the near future.
Tribal Casinos File Sports Betting Authorisation Ballot Measure – November 2019
A coalition of 18 tribes put in a ballot measure that would legalize sports betting subject to state-wide approval. The measure would authorize sports betting and horse wagering at tribal casinos with a 10% tax rate on gross win. This measure would not include mobile betting.
Bill Dodd Sports Betting Bill Introduction – June, 2019
Senator Bill Dodd and Assemblyman Adam Gray introduced the constitutional amendment bill ACA 16, to the legislature. The bill would authorize sports betting subject to state-wide voter approval. The California Nations Indian Gaming Association opposed the regulation of sports wagering until their monopoly on card games was restored.
California Online Sportsbooks Amendment Proposal – July, 2017
Gray proposed an amendment to authorize betting in California provided that PASPA would be repealed. The amendment would be accepted subject to a two-thirds majority vote before it could be placed on a ballot for the next referendum.
Daily Fantasy Sports Authorization – January 2016
Adam Gray introduced the AB 1437 bill that regulated and authorized Daily Fantasy Sports. The bill passed unanimously in January 2016 and have regulated DFS since.
What Kind of Gambling is Legal in California?
As of now, there are a few options available for gambling in California:
- Cardrooms
- Charitable Gambling
- Pari-mutuel Horse Wagering
- Daily Fantasy Sports (contested wether legal or not)
- Indian Gaming
- Lottery
Online Betting Ca
Cardrooms
Card rooms are very popular and within California state borders there are close to 70 card rooms venues (the number of card rooms vary over time but is stable between 60-70). These card rooms offer non-banked poker, Pai gow, Blackjack, Baccarat and Chinese poker and Panguingue.
Charitable Gambling
Non profit organizations can offer raffles, bingo games and poker nights.
Pari-mutuel Horse Wagering
Pari-mutuel wagering pools all bets made on a race and distributes winnings from the pool. This is currently the only way of real money sports betting in California.
Daily Fantasy Sports
DFS is not regulated as interactive gaming, and is therefore not prohibited in California. This makes it possible to bet on sports, without the element of real money. This is a good choice for players that are interested in other sports than horse racing.
Indian Gaming
Native American tribes can offer casino gambling and there are currently over 60 casino venues operated by California tribes which means that all casino gambling is operated by native American tribes.
California State Lottery
The lottery offers scratchcard and draw games. You can buy tickets to interstate Mega Millions and Powerball draws through the California state lottery.
Travel to Vegas
A more serious, betting alternative is to actually drive to Las Vegas which is a fairly close destination. As the gambling capital in the world, Vegas offers wagering on casino slots and table games and sports in their casino venues, and it is a simple weekend destination if you are interested in betting on sports in California.
The Future of Betting on Sports in California
There is an interesting battle going on for the sports betting legalization in California.
Both the state and the native tribes in the state are keen to get exclusive rights to sports betting, and the coalition of tribes that proposed a measure in November 2019 might be the closest option at the moment.
However, since they didn’t include mobile betting in their bill, the market size would not reach the $2.5 billion that is up for grabs. The question remains unanswered until further proceedings from the legislature.
As any bill would need a supermajority of two-thirds, there will be a lot of legislative work to form a consensus before we will see any real progress.
FAQ
Is gambling legal in California?Yes, gambling is legal at Tribal Casinos, card establishments and horse tracks. There is also a legal state lottery in California.
Is sports betting legal in California?No. Pari-mutuel horse wagering and Daily Fantasy Sports are the only legal betting options in California.
When will California have legal sports betting?As more US states are opening up for legal sports betting, land-based and online, California is likely to follow suit. A reasonable guesstimate is sometime in 2022 but could be earlier or later.
How big is the estimated market size (If regulated):$2.5 billion
Is casino betting legal in California?Yes, at tribal casinos
Is horse racing legal in California?
Betting Card Games
Yes
Is online gambling legal in California?No
Is DFS available in California?Legalized Sports Betting California
Yes, there is no legislation prohibiting DFS