Last Updated May 25, 2022, 10:12 AM ET
California’s unwavering appetite for legal sports betting has led to a surge of recent proposals to bring legal wagering to the Golden State.
One such recent California online-wagering measure appears headed for the November ballot after obtaining more petition signatures than required to qualify such a ballot measure.
If these measures gain voter approval, the Gold Rush of legal online sports betting could arrive in California as early as 2023. California could become the most lucrative U.S. sports betting market.
Our California sports betting guide will keep you in the loop as things unfold on the west coast.
No, sports betting is not legal in California. But one initiative to legalize sports betting will be on the November 2022 ballot — and two more could follow suit.
With three separate sports betting measures on tap, there's renewed optimism in the Golden State. The California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative, a tribal-backed proposal aiming to legalize in-person wagering at tribal casinos and racetracks, is the most likely to succeed. The measure has already secured enough votes to appear on the 2022 ballot.
The actions would legalize sports betting at more than 80 Native American casinos, and the proposal would also permit roulette and craps at tribal gaming facilities. Presently, California casinos can only house slots, lottery games, and banked card games.
A second measure seeks to legalize sports betting online and in tribal casinos, professional sports venues, licensed racing associations, and other state-run gaming facilities. Four cities — Colma, Gardena, Inglewood, and San Jose — are behind the initiative.
The third and most recent measure to legalize online wagering is backed by seven of the largest sports betting operators in the nation — Bally’s, BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Penn National/Barstool Sportsbook, WynnBET, and Fanatics (who are rumored to be closing in on an acquisition). The California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act promises to allocate 85% of sports betting tax revenue to a new fund for homelessness and mental health. The Act aims to complement the tribal proposal as any online sportsbook launching in California would be required to partner with a tribal casino.
Initiatives must gain two-thirds of the vote from the state legislature or 997,139 signatures from registered California voters.
The Golden State now has three separate sports betting initiatives ticketed for the November 2022 ballot. While nothing is imminent, CA is creeping closer to gaining some clarity on the possibility of legal sports wagering in 2023.
Here’s a brief history of everything sports betting in California:
May 9, 2022: California tribes backing an online sports betting measure turn their focus to the 2024 ballot, deciding instead to use remaining resources to "kill" the California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act. Now, just one tribal measure will be on the 2022 ballot — the California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative.
May 3, 2022: The California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act receives 1.6 million signatures, qualifying for the November 2022 ballot.
May 2, 2022: Poll findings released Friday, April 29, 2022, revealed substantial backing for one of three California sports betting initiatives that could make the November ballot.
March 25, 2022: The measure to legalize sports betting at tribal casinos and licensed racetracks meets stiff opposition from a coalition of over 80 elected officials.
March 7, 2022: California card rooms — Hollywood Park Casino and Cal-Pac Rancho Cordova — file a lawsuit to keep the sports-betting initiative sponsored by nine tribal casinos off the November ballot.
Feb. 23, 2022: A UC Berkeley poll reveals 45% of Californians are in favor of legalizing sports betting, while 33% are opposed to such legalization. The remaining 22% are on the fence.
Jan. 24, 2022: The California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act campaign reports reaching 25% (249,285 of 997,136) of the signatures required to make the November ballot. Signatures are due on May 3, 2022.
Nov. 5, 2021: A fourth sports betting initiative — and second tribal proposal — is filed by the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Federated Indians of the Wilton Rancheria, and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. "The Age-Verified Tribal Online and In-Person Sports Wagering & Homelessness Solutions Act" would legalize online and retail sports betting in California.
Aug. 31, 2021: The California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act is filed with the state attorney general’s office. The third sports betting initiative eligible for the November 2022 ballot is backed by DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and others.
Aug. 12, 2021: Four California cities — led by Gardena Mayor Tasha Cerda — introduce the California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act, a proposal aiming to legalize online and retail sports betting.
May 27, 2021: The California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative qualifies for the November 2022 ballot after receiving more than one million signatures.
June 22, 2020: Sen. Bill Dodd withdraws SCA 6 from consolidation, citing COVID-19 and legislative deadlines as hurdles preventing the bill from getting across the finish line.
Nov. 13, 2019: The California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative, a measure supported by 18 Californian tribes, is first introduced.
June 27, 2019: Sen. Bill Dodd introduces SCA 6, a measure that would legalize and regulate sports betting in California.
May 14, 2018: The Supreme Court deems the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional. With the federal ban on sports betting lifted, each U.S. state is granted the autonomy to legalize and regulate sports wagering as it sees fit.
Sports betting is currently illegal in California. Should any of the current proposals come to fruition sometime in 2023, adults 21 years and older should be permitted to place sports wagers in the Golden State.
Legal ageThe legal age to gamble in California is 18. However, recent proposals to legalize sports wagering have maintained bettors will have to be 21 years old to place a legal bet.
Mobile bettingMobile sports betting has been included in two of the three proposed measures to legalize sports betting in California. Regardless of the outcome of the November 2022 ballot, one has to believe mobile betting will, at the very least, be an ongoing discussion in California — even if it is years away.
Remote registrationIf legal online sports betting arrives in California, anyone 21 and older should be able to register with a sportsbook from anywhere in the state.
Within state bordersWhen California legalizes sports betting, bets will only be accepted by those physically located in the Golden State. This goes without saying for retail sports wagering, but federal law requires all online wagers to be confirmed in-state as well.
Retail sportsbooksThere are no legal retail sportsbooks operating in California. However, over 50 tribal casinos are clamoring to change this. If the California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative comes to pass, CA could be home to the largest collection of retail sportsbooks in the country.
Taxable winningsIn addition to the 24% federal tax on gambling winnings, California bettors will be saddled with CA state income tax on their sports betting profits. Although California has the unenviable claim to the highest tax rate in the United States (up to 13.3%), most residents fall in a much lower tax bracket.
Luckily for Californians, legal sports betting resides on the other side of the state border. California’s three bordering states — Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon — have all legalized online sports betting.
Arizona stands as the top option with remote registration and an impressive and growing lineup of online sportsbooks. Meanwhile, Nevada boasts dozens of retail locations that are sure to satisfy the appetite of the in-person gambler. Oregon, while restricted to just one online option — the state-run Scoreboard sportsbook — offers more than Californians will find in their home state.
California does not have legal sports betting, but it does have hope. The Golden State has the potential to grow into a sports bettor’s paradise, and with several proposals in place, CA is closer to offering regulated sports wagering than ever before.
But amidst the hope is the uncertainty that there is no guarantee any of the three current proposals will turn to gold in California. For most residents, when it comes to legal sports betting, they’ll believe it when they see it.
No legal sports betting until 2023 at the earliestMobile betting not guaranteedExorbitant taxes on gambling winnings for high rollersThe details are murky, but California bettors will almost certainly have several sportsbooks to choose from when all is said and done. If online betting is legalized, sports wagers will be accessible statewide and in brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.
The sportsbook selection process includes reading reviews and identifying the most favorable sign-up bonuses and betting lines. It’s also best practice to read over a sportsbook’s terms and conditions page to fully understand the parameters of its offerings.
Suppose online sports betting is a part of California’s new sports betting law. In that case, gamblers will likely be able to complete the registration process from anywhere in the state via a mobile device and secure internet connection.
There is a chance that retail sportsbooks will be the only game in town, however. If this happens, California bettors will have to be physically present to place a wager.
Online sportsbooks across the country offer some truly impressive welcome bonuses to bettors. With California shaping up to be a desirable and competitive market, CA bettors should benefit from the same promotional offerings if online betting arrives. Expect to encounter bonuses such as risk-free bets, no-deposit bonuses, and deposit matches.
Sportsbooks offer a variety of methods to fund your account. Bettors in California should be able to use some of the following options: PayPal, credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, PayNearMe, and cash.
Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with the relevant terms and conditions to avoid any unexpected transaction fees.
When legal sports betting arrives, bettors can expect to find all of the popular bet types in California. These include moneylines, Over/Unders (totals), point spreads, parlays, teasers, futures, live bets, and more.
Some sportsbooks will offer bettors more favorable betting lines than others. Make sure you’re able to spot these before confirming your first wagers. Shopping around and creating multiple sportsbook accounts is a great way to take advantage of sign-up bonuses and quickly pivot to the best betting lines.
Fund withdrawals can generally be completed via the same method used for deposits. Wait times, however, can vary. Transactions typically take a few days to process but can take longer with some sportsbooks.
U.S. sportsbooks use American odds to display betting odds. Favorites are assigned a minus (-) sign, and the accompanying number tells bettors how much money they’ll need to put on the line to win $100 in profit. For example, -350 odds indicate a bettor must wager $350 to win $100.
You can spot underdogs by looking for a plus (+) sign. The number here represents the amount you could profit when placing a $100 bet. For example, +250 odds mean a $100 wager could net you $250.
Although American odds are the go-to option in the U.S., you may prefer to view odds as decimals or fractions. Our odds converter allows you to switch between the three main types of odds quickly.
Nothing is in play for Californian bettors at the moment. As the state's future sports betting landscape begins to take shape, we'll learn more about what will be on and off the table.
Barring a drastic change, Californians will not be permitted to bet on politics. This type of wager is not available anywhere in the U.S.
California sportsbooks could offer betting lines on popular awards shows like the Acadamy Awards and Emmy Awards, but this remains to be seen.
Esports betting has become increasingly popular and could be a welcome addition to the California betting scene.
Many states do not allow bettors to place wagers on in-state college teams. Could California follow suit? We'll be keeping an eye on this one, as college betting would be a boon for the Golden State.
California is home to more professional sports franchises — and most likely sports fans — than any other state. But when legal sports betting arrives, be careful not to let your fandom cloud your judgment. Always do your due diligence before betting on your hometown squad. Check out our how to bet guides to get started.
With over 60 tribal casinos, 74 cardrooms, and some of the most well-renowned horse racetracks in the country, the California gambling scene is alive and well.
Online gambling, however, is illegal. Pari-mutuel horse race betting is the only form of legal online betting in the state.
CasinoFor a state that has deemed online gambling taboo, California has a thriving casino gambling industry. With more brick-and-mortar casinos than any other U.S. state not named Nevada or Oklahoma, the Golden State generates nearly $8 billion in revenue, after winnings, annually.
Each casino offers a complete lineup of games, including slots, blackjack, and baccarat. If the California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative passes the November 2022 vote, roulette and dice games, such as craps, would also be legalized in CA.
In California, sweepstakes casinos are the only online game in town. The sweepstakes model abides by the CA criminal code, allowing gamblers to earn real money using virtual currency.
PokerThere are dozens of poker rooms for card sharks to enjoy in the Golden State.
When it comes to online poker, California’s tribal casinos, cardrooms, and racetrack operators have been in a stalemate, as all efforts to legalize online poker have fallen short. With interested parties failing to come to terms on how this gaming expansion would benefit each stakeholder, they’ve kicked the can down the road on multiple occasions.
Horse racingPari-mutuel horse racing has been legal in California since 1933. The California Horse Racing Board oversees one of the largest markets in the U.S., including some of the most beautiful racetracks in the nation.
Santa Anita Park, Del Mar Racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, and Los Alamitos Race Course stand as CA’s top destinations for live horse racing. Many affiliate off-track betting (OTB) sites allow gamblers to get in on the action away from the racetrack, while legal bets can also be placed online at the best horse racing betting sites.
Daily fantasy sportsDaily fantasy sports (DFS) contests operate in an unregulated grey area in California. Major operators DraftKings and FanDuel serve the nation’s largest DFS market without opposition, so it’s unlikely lawmakers will take further action any time soon.
With such a robust gambling industry, the unfortunate reality is that many Californians fall victim to gambling addiction. The California Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) provides education, prevention, and treatment for those in need.
Californians who recognize they may have a gambling problem are also encouraged to consider the state’s self-exclusion program. Here, individuals can voluntarily ban themselves from all gambling establishments for a specified period of time.
Visit the California Council on Problem GamblingWhen California ultimately legalizes sports betting, it will join the following states:
It's been a long wait in California, but frustrated gamblers should refrain from placing sports bets with unregulated offshore sportsbooks. Any operator claiming to offer legal sports betting in CA is not to be trusted. Avoid these sportsbooks at all costs.
No. Momentum is building, but don’t expect to see legal sports betting in California until 2023 at the earliest.
If one of CA's recent sports betting proposals makes the November 2022 ballot and passes the vote, legal sports betting could be available in California sometime in 2023.
There is no way to legally gamble on sports in California. It remains to be seen if the Golden State will offer retail betting, online wagering, or both in 2023.
No iteration of sports betting is legal in California at the moment. However, all of the popular bet types should be available when the state lifts the ban on sports wagers.
There are zero legal online sportsbooks in California.
Yes, but Californians can only bet on horse races online or on a mobile device.
Yes. With the sheer number of sportsbooks that will almost assuredly make their way into California, many sportsbooks are expected to mirror the odds found at sportsbooks in Las Vegas.
The minimum age to gamble in CA is 18. However, sports bettors will have to be 21 or older to place a legal wager in California.
No, bet365 does not have a license to operate in California.
Such a place does not exist. Hopefully, California will see online and retail sports betting arrive as early as 2023.
This, and many other questions, will be answered when California inches closer to legalized sports betting. Currently, wagers cannot be placed on in or out-of-state teams.
Jeff Watters is a content editor at Covers. Before he began supporting Covers experts in making smarter sports bettors in 2021, the well-traveled Nova Scotian and Atlanta Braves fanatic spent time writing about education, software, and NHL prospects.
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