It’s not hard to find a place to gamble in California. The state features almost 100 card rooms and more than 50 tribal California casinos.
The California Gaming Control Board states that there are 59 tribal casinos and a number of racetracks, creating a large pool of locations where live sports betting could take place. There is a list of California casinos toward the end of this article. How old do I have to be to place sports bets in California? Type Of Betting Site Legality In The State Of California; Sweepstakes casinos: LEGAL: Sweepstakes poker: LEGAL: Online horse race betting: LEGAL: Daily Fantasy Sports: LEGAL: Online Casinos: Illegal: Online sports betting: Illegal (aside from Daily Fantasy Sports) Online poker: Illegal: Online Lottery: Illegal (except for special state-sanctioned circumstances) Online Bingo.
However, California is a house divided when it comes to legalized sports betting. At this point, America’s largest state has no definite timeframe for the introduction of wagering on sporting events instate. Proposals continue to surface though, which means interested parties abound.
California residents do have the option to play DFS and enter into sweepstakes type contests. DraftKings, FanDuel and FendOff Sports all operate within the state of California.
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At the center of this interminable delay are the competing interests of three stakeholders in the Golden State. The three entities in question are:
- Tribal interests
- Cardrooms
- Racetracks
At this point, California would have to pass a constitutional amendment in order to bring sports betting inside its borders. Due to language in a 2000 ballot initiative, the tribal casinos in California have claimed a de jure jurisdiction over all gambling types, including sports betting.
Recent movement on sports betting in California
Democratic Assemblyman Adam Gray of Merced failed to get traction with two previous sports betting proposals. Those included an assembly bill in 2016 and a constitutional amendment in 2017.
During the same time period, an advocacy group called Californians for Sports Betting announced its intention to push for ballot initiatives that would repeal the constitutional language from 2000 that placed so much power in the hands of Native American groups. Needless to say, the tribal interests were not amused. They used their political power to kill almost any mention of sports betting legalization in 2018.
Gray’s failed attempts thus far haven’t deterred him. On June 27, 2019, Gray, along with state Sen. Bill Dodd, introduced into the California Assembly and Senate ACA 16. The amendment would give the CA Legislature the power to authorize and regulate sports betting in the state.
For an amendment to become law in California, first, identical versions need to pass in both the Assembly and Senate by a 2/3 margin. It then must pass the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom before going onto the ballot, where it needs a simple majority vote. If ACA makes it through both houses, it could arrive on the November 2020 ballot.
California tribes put a horse in the race
On Nov. 13, a coalition of 18 California tribes filed papers with the state attorney general’s office for a sports betting initiative of their own.
“The California Sports Wagering and Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act” would allow sports wagering in tribal gaming casinos and licensed racetracks. It also includes a proposed 10% tax on gross gaming revenue from sports betting to be used for regulatory costs, public safety, education, and mental health programs.
The amendment would allow wagers on professional, college and some amateur sports. Interestingly, it would prohibit betting on high school contests and games involving California college teams, which will likely be a major point of contention. Another point of contention is the lack of inclusion of mobile or online gambling provisions.
The initiative would also strengthen the power of the California attorney general’s office to regulate gambling. The amendment, if passed as is, would also allow tribal casinos to begin offering roulette and craps.
Like ACA 16, the tribes’ amendment proposal would need to get through the California Legislature before making its way to the 2020 ballot. While it’s unlikely to gain the necessary approval in its current form, the tribal interest seems like a step in the right direction for legalized sports betting.
The largest sports betting market in the country
The AGA estimates Americans wagered $154 billion on sports in 2016. It also claims nearly all of those wagers were illegal.
Broken down by population, that would mean California’s approximately 39.14 million people bet an estimated $18.7 billion on sports in 2016. California is the largest state in America, so it would likely represent the largest sports betting market in the country.
According to Legal Sports Report, that activity would generate first-year revenues of around $100 million. While that figure is a drop in the bucket for California’s $180 billion state budget, it would still be a chunk of new income for a state with budgetary issues.
The wheels appear to be in motion for sports betting to go to a popular vote in 2020. What is less clear is whether it will be the California Legislature or the California tribal interests holding the reigns on regulation.
What would a legal sports betting market look like in California?
Based upon the various attempted proposals in the state, California sports betting would feature:
- Licensed gaming facilities could take live bets on sports. Online/mobile wagering may be off-limits, depending which body is overseeing regulations.
- Players wagering would have to be 21 or older as well as inside California’s borders to bet.
- There would be licensing fees andtaxes on revenues for operators.
- Wagers could be placed on professional, college and some amateur sports. If tribal interests get their way, wagering on games involving California college teams may be prohibited.
The biggest questions surrounding the future California sports betting market include who will be doing the regulating and which facilities will be authorized to accept wagers. With all the competing interests at play, these aren’t simple questions to answer.
Whether either or both of the most recent initiatives make it to the 2020 ballot remains to be seen. The biggest threat to getting sports betting legalized in the Golden State remains dispute over regulatory power and competing stakeholder interests.
The three stakeholder groups have shown no hesitation about contesting progress on bills that look to cut them out of the profits, no matter the cost. The tribes in particular have demonstrated willingness to go to great lengths also to protect their authority over gambling regulation.
Sports betting laws in the United States
Of course, in times past, the proposed sports betting bills had to contend with the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). PASPA became law in 1992, making Nevada the only state allowed to offer legal sports betting.
In May of 2018, the US Supreme Court ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional and struck down the federal ban on sports betting. Now that the major hurdle is out of the way, the floodgates for state-regulated sports wagering have opened. California is already late to the party, but could be one of the next to join in.
Sports Betting Sites California History
Daily fantasy sports in California
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) can sometimes serve as an appetizer for sports betting in states. The relatively new industry shares many of the same characteristics. Its two main companies, DraftKings and FanDuel, are having little difficulty expanding their businesses into bona fide sports betting and gambling.
With regard to the Golden State, one half of the California legislature stood firmly behind a daily fantasy sports (DFS) bill in 2016. The bill breezed through committee hearings. It then came up one vote shy of passing unanimously in the California Assembly.
From there, the Senate sat on the bill. It added an amendment in June. The bill headed to committee, where it died. The San Manuel and Morongo bands of Mission Indians that own and operate a pair of Native American casinos in the state voiced opposition.
Even with the legality of DFS in California still an open question, major operators continue doing business. Lawmakers seem disinterested in stopping them either.
This means there is no legal framework, fees, or taxes associated with DFS operations in California. However, these operations still accept California players, albeit by functioning in what amounts to a grey area.
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.
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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.
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
- 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
Sports Betting In California
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.
Fantasy Betting Sites
Final Thoughts on Betting in California
California Sports Betting Online
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!