California Betting Sites: Not Legal Yet but Coming Soon?
Several years after the repeal of PASPA, we are still waiting for legal California sports betting to become a reality. At the moment, sports betting is still illegal in CA. There are moves to change this and Californian bettors hope that positive developments are in the pipeline.
California betting sites have not yet been legalized. As we only recommend legal and licensed operators for each state, we won’t be making any recommendations in CA until this changes.
Until then CA gamblers will have to make do with the other gambling options available in the state. There are plenty of ways that Californians can gamble, but if you are in CA and want to place a legal sports bet, you’ll have to cross state lines and do it in Nevada.
What Are the Best Betting Sites California Gamblers Can Use?
Although California online sports betting is still not legal, CA residents have a range of gambling options available. Even without California betting sites, it is possible to gamble in a variety of ways if you are in CA, though online options are limited.
Poker is big in California and the state has some of the largest poker rooms in the country. Betting on horse racing betting is legal, and residents can take part on the California State Lottery. Daily fantasy sports operate in a legal grey area and the leading DFS sites accept Californian players.
Is Daily Fantasy Legal in California?
As mentioned above, it is possible to play Daily Fantasy Sports in CA. Although it isn’t legal, tens of thousands of gamblers continue to play DFS in the state each week.
DraftKings and FanDuel both continue to accept customers from CA. Each would likely want to introduce its own California sports betting app if wagering is legalized, so the legal situation for DFS will likely have to be clarified and formalized before sports betting legislation is introduced in CA.
Are there Legal Offshore Sites for CA Bettors?
The only current option for CA sports bettors is using offshore betting sites such as MyBookie, Bovada, or BetOnline. Offshore bookmakers aren’t regulated by any authority and are risky places to gamble.
It may be tempting for Californians to use offshore sites to place a bet – but be careful. If you bet at unlicensed bookies, then your funds are not safe and there are no guarantees that your winning bets will be paid out.
Land-based Casinos in California
The state of California boasts plenty of casinos for gamblers to visit. There are over 60 casinos in CA and visitors to them can play a wide range of games and gaming machines.
Sports betting is still illegal in California, so California casinos don’t have sportsbooks. There are a variety of other gambling options at CA casinos, but as of now, sports betting isn’t one of them. If gamblers in California want to place a sports bet, they’ll have to drive to Nevada.
Racetrack Betting in CA
Betting on horse racing has been legal in California since 1933. Aside from a short break during WW2, racing has operated continuously since. The minimum age for pari-mutuel betting on horse racing in California is 18.
The Golden State has a strong horse racing history, though interest in the sport has dwindled in recent years and several tracks have closed. Santa Anita Park is one of the most famous tracks in the US. Golden Gate Fields and Del Mar Fairgrounds are two other tracks in the state.
Currently the best betting sites California gamblers can use are for wagering on horse racing. Betting on racing is the only online type of gambling that is legal in the Golden State.
Card Rooms in California
California has a plethora of card rooms for eager poker players. Poker is fully legal in CA and the state has some of the biggest and best games in the country.
Los Angeles has one of the largest poker scenes in the US and Commerce Casino boasts one of the largest poker rooms in the county. LA has other busy poker rooms including the Bicycle, Hustler, Hawaiian Gardens and Hollywood Park.
In the Bay Area you can play poker in several locations. Bay 101, Lucky Chances and The Oaks are the leading card rooms in the area. Over in Sacramento you can get your poker fix at Stones Gambling Hall. South from LA, you’ll find Ocean’s Eleven Casino in Oceanside.
Finding the Closest State with Legal Sports Betting
Until California legalizes online sports betting, the closest place for Californians to place a legal online sports bet is Nevada. You’ll probably need to head to Las Vegas, Reno, or Tahoe as betting online in Nevada requires you to sign up in person at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook.
What Would Legal Sports Betting in California Look Like
Legal gambling in California would be a massive market. It is estimated that legal California betting sites could generate billions of dollars in annual revenue.
If online sports betting is legalized then the best betting sites California ‘cappers could wager at would be safe and secure. What’s more, the state would also benefit from being able to tax this new industry.
Betting on Lakers or Warriors games legally at would be fantastic news for California bettors. CA has the most professional sports teams of any state, not to mention all of the college sports action that takes place.
Currently the only legal sports betting sites California has to offer are on horse racing. Sports fans throughout the state are hoping that this will change soon, and they can wager on the NFL and NBA legally.
What are the California Gambling Laws
| Betting Type | Law |
|---|---|
| Sports Betting | Not Currently Legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Not Currently Legal |
| Land-based Casino | 21+ |
| Online Casino | Not Currently Legal |
| Poker | Legal in Brick-and-Mortar Venues |
| Racetrack Betting | 18+ |
| California Gambling Age | 18+ for Lotto, Horse Racing and Some Casinos. 21+ for Other Casinos |
In CA, for many forms of gambling you only have to be 18 years old. Playing the lottery and betting on horse racing are permitted from the age of 18, as is entry to a number of tribal casinos.
When California betting sites are legalized, we expect that CA bettors will have to be over 21 to fall in line with other states. However, this is far from certain and will be set in future legislation.
Betting on horse racing is the only legal form of online wagering that is possible in California. You can also play DFS, but this is a legal grey area and not officially permitted.
In the table above we show which forms of gambling are legal in California. Of course, gambling legislation is constantly evolving, so we will update the table with the relevant information if the laws change.
History of Sports Betting and Gambling in California
The California Penal Code of 1872 set out prohibitions on various forms of gambling. Mostly this was games against the house. Poker has always been legal in CA.
In 1933 betting on horse racing was legalized. In 1976 charity bingo was permitted after a constitutional amendment was approved by state voters. In 1984 the California State Lottery was given the go-ahead. The first tickets were sold in 1985.
In 1987 tribal casinos were permitted. California Native American tribes embraced the opportunity and there are now over 60 tribal casinos in CA.
The Gambling Control Act of 1987 led to the creation of the California Gambling Control Commission. The CGCC oversees and regulates all forms of gambling in the Golden State and should be in charge of online gaming when this becomes legal.
In 2018 PASPA was repealed. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act long prevented most US states from introducing legal sports betting. With the act overturned, many states began working towards new legislation. Slow progress has been made in CA but there is hope for the future.
The Future of California Online Sports Betting
It is estimated that a legalized sports betting industry in California could generate large amounts of revenue. With that in mind, there are plenty of lawmakers in the state who are in favor of making both online and retail sports betting legal.
A new proposal to legalize sports wagering could be on the agenda in the Golden State 2022. In November 2022, voters could be asked whether they want to legalize betting on professional and college sports at a California sportsbook.
Several of the state’s Native American tribes have strong incentive to get sports betting legalized, as do DFS companies such as DraftKings. California brick-and-mortar casinos are also pushing for legalization.
Many groups have a vested interest in legal gambling in CA. When sports wagering in CA becomes legal, the best betting sites California residents can gamble at are likely to be operated by partnerships between established national gaming companies and the state’s casinos and Native American tribes.
Californian gamblers will have to cross their fingers and hope that a big enough consensus grows for online gambling to become legal. Until then, only players from legal sports betting states will be able to place sports bets
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope that that you found our CA online sports betting guide as informative as possible. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions from our site users about betting online in California. This covers some common topics that our readers ask about California betting sites.
⚖️ Is online gambling and sports betting legal in California?
No. Online gambling and sports betting are not permitted in California. There are plenty of casinos in California, but online wagering is not yet allowed. You can get a summary of the latest online betting situation in California in our section above.
🛡️ What is the California legal gambling age?
The legal gambling age in California is 18 for the lottery, pari-mutuel betting and tribal casinos and 21 for most other casinos. Read more about California gambling laws in our dedicated section.
🚨 Are sites like MyBookie and Bovada safe places to bet?
MyBookie and Bovada are illegal offshore gambling sites and are not safe to bet at. At offshore sites you don't know if your funds are safe or winning bets will be paid. We look at what a potential legal California gambling market might look like in our legal section.
🔎 Can I play at a CA online sportsbook if I am not in the state?
There isn't a legal California sportsbook yet. If you live in CA and want to gamble online, then you will have to visit a neighboring state. Nevada is the closest state to California with legal online gambling. CA residents can visit Nevada and gamble legally and safely online.