Sports gambling could be coming to California in the near future. While 22 states have legalized sports gambling since the Supreme Court's ruling in 2018, California has lagged behind due to a. For many decades, gambling in California has been a contentious issue. People were both for and against the activity being made legal. This was particularly problematic when it came to Native.

Although the state is home to some of the world’s biggest major sports league teams, there is currently no legal California sports betting. However, there are many gambling industry stakeholders and lawmakers pushing to bring in-person and mobile sports betting to the state, so legal online sports betting in California may come soon.

As we only recommend players sign up for trustworthy and licensed bookies, we don’t have any sports betting sites to recommend Californians at the moment. Instead, we’ve used this guide to discuss the gambling options that are available in the state, the current laws around sports betting, and the future outlook for the industry.

What Betting Options are Legal for California Residents

Contents

• What Betting Options are Legal for California Residents
• Frequently Asked Questions

While there is no California legal online sportsbook or in-person betting options, residents still have plenty of other gambling options to enjoy. This includes full-scale casino-style gambling at tribal casinos, including table games and slots, a state lottery, horse race betting, and daily fantasy sports.

Is Daily Fantasy Legal in California?

For those wanting to try a good alternative to sports betting, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is almost the only form of legal California online gambling. We say almost because the state neither defines it as legal or illegal, and fantasy sports operators are free to offer the games to Californians without fear of breaking the law.

DFS in CA is offered by a number of operators, including the reputable sports betting sites FanDuel and DraftKings. We recommend trying either of these trusted sportsbooks for DFS as they are the most popular, and allow players to form and wager on fantasy lineups of players from all major sports leagues.

Are there Legal Offshore Sites for California Players

Without an opportunity to sign up for a California legal online sportsbook, many players are turning to offshore betting sites to place bets on sports. As the state doesn’t block residents from using these sites or explicitly ban them, players accessing websites like MyBookie and BetOnline will not be punished for offshore betting.

But just because they are accessible, this doesn’t mean it’s recommended. The problem with these websites is that they are not licensed, and so are therefore not guaranteed to be acting in the best interests of players. Without these regulations that demand bookmakers are safe and fair, players may be at risk when using unlicensed products.

Casinos

CA has a number of world-class tribal casinos that offer the very best in casino gaming. These include classic and video slot machines, table games such as poker, blackjack, and roulette, and more. Many of these casino resorts don’t just offer gambling, but are holiday precincts that provide great entertainment and dining options.

In fact, California is the birthplace of legal Native American casinos. The Supreme Court decision to allow gambling on tribal reservations concerned a dispute between the California government and the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. The Cabazon Indians were victorious and now, more than 30 years later, there are 69 tribal casinos in the state.

Racetrack Betting

Until there is legal online sports betting in CA, residents may be interested in gambling on legal horse racing. The state is home to a number of horse racing tracks, though players are not limited to wagering onsite. There are plenty of off-track betting parlors that take wagers on live races around the country.

Horse race betting is a profitable industry that has earned the state millions since it was first introduced. California is a major hub for these races and is home to the Santa Anita Racecourse and Del Mar Race Track. In some respects, it’s quite similar to sports betting, as it involves wagering on the outcome of a live sporting event.

Card Rooms

Fortunately for poker fans, card rooms are permitted in California, with most being on tribal reservations. There are 69 card rooms in the state, many of which host poker tournaments. This has rendered California as being one of the premier states for hosting professional poker.

Nearby States with Legal Sports Betting

Just because in-person sports betting and legal online sports betting in California is not available, there is no law that forbids players from traveling to other states to wager on sports legally. Fortunately, California sports betting is near to be legalized. This includes the state of Nevada, which is the undisputed mecca of sports betting in the US, if not the world.

Below, we’ve listed three of the closest states that offer legal sports betting that would be well worth a visit.

• Nevada
• Oregon
• Washington

What would Legal Sports Betting in California Look Like

If sports betting was legalized in California, it is expected that the state would become one of the largest sports betting markets in the country. This may not come as a surprise, as some of the most popular teams from every major sports league call the state home, including the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Francisco 49ers.

Currently, there are a number of political initiatives to bring sports betting to California. A popular initiative is headed by a union of the state’s tribal groups, who wish to be granted exclusive rights to offer sports betting at their casinos. This would mean that no mobile betting would be allowed.

The issue of gaming exclusivity and limiting sports betting to in-person betting has been contested by some non-tribal interests, so the matter is still up in the air. Once it has been resolved, a state gambling authority will be established to oversee the rules and regulations of the industry.

This kind of regulation is important to both players and the state. Licensing bodies ensure that the safest betting sites provide a fair betting experience while protecting at-risk players. Licensing also sets tax rates to profits on gambling, so state coffers will benefit from revenues currently leaking to illegal offshore sites.

Legalized Sports Gambling In California

What are the California Gambling Laws

California is different from many states in that it does not make gambling in general illegal or legal, but rather makes individual kinds of gambling illegal. As it stands, the gambling industry is hugely profitable for the state. For example, in 2018, card rooms alone generated more than $850 million payouts after deductions.

Native American gambling also turns over around $8 billion a year. For this reason, California gambling laws aren’t too rigid but constantly evolve with the times. Whenever a bill to change the gambling laws is passed by the government, residents must approve of the measures in a statewide ballot.

This process ensures that Californians always have a say in what gambling options they believe are worthy of legalizing. The fact that most gambling options are legal in the state reveals that residents are open to more betting options as long as they are safe.

As the table shows, all forms of legal online sports betting in CA aside from DFS are not legal. However, poker is completely legal in California and has been for more than a century. Racetrack betting too is a popular pastime, though declining attendance has signaled that bettor’s attitudes are shifting.

California’s laws require that players must be over 18 to gamble. However, tribal casinos only allow players above 21 years of age to gamble, as alcohol is served there.

What is the Future of Sports Betting in California?

When it comes to California sports betting, we think it’s pretty safe to assume that legalization is a near certainty. This all comes down to money; with the state being the largest market for DFS in the country, it’s highly likely that it would become one of the most successful legal sport betting states.

When this will happen will just come down to a matter of how the tribes and government agree to regulate the market. For the time being, Californians will need to travel to a nearby neighboring state to place legal bets, or just stick to the huge range of legal gaming options at their disposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have more questions about California’s gambling market and whether or not there are legal sports betting options available? Keep reading to discover our answers to commonly asked questions so that you know all you need to before you consider trying to bet on sports.

Is online gambling and sports betting legal in California?

Sports betting is illegal in California, while online gambling is limited to DFS betting. Even when sports betting is made legal in the state, it’s quite likely that Californians will need to travel to tribal casinos or racetracks to make bets in person.

What is the California legal gambling age?

The minimum gambling age for gambling in California is technically 18, though almost all tribal casinos require that players are above the age of 21 years old.

Legalize Gambling In California

Are offshore bookmaker sites legal and safe?

The only way players can be sure that they are betting at a safe website is if it is licensed in the jurisdiction they are playing in. As offshore bookmakers aren’t licensed, they may not meet strict requirements that ensure that they aren’t scamming players or targeting younger or problem players.

Can I use the FanDuel or DraftKings app in California?

While there is no legal California sports betting app, both DraftKings and FanDuel can be downloaded to make daily fantasy sports bets. California has the largest market of DFS bettors in the country, and these apps are the most popular due to their sleek design, reputation, and betting options.

Legislative Analyst's Office, January 1998

Gambling in the United States

What Kind of Gambling Is Allowed?

Size of the Gambling Industry

Indian Gambling

Gambling in California

Gambling Laws In California

Lottery

Legalized Gambling In California State

Card Rooms

Horse Racing

Charitable Gambling

Indian Gambling

Legalizing Gambling In California

Legalized Gambling In California Laws