4/6/2022»»Wednesday

Can You Bet On Sports Online In California

4/6/2022

No, sports betting is not legal in California. As of right now, you cannot legally place a sports betting wager in the state, nor are there any legal or licensed sportsbooks operating in California. You don’t have to travel or get dressed up to have the same odds and betting lines you’d find at a land-based sportsbook in California. Placing bets online in California is not illegal in any way as long as. A Complicated Answer (PC 337 (a)) It is not legal to gamble on sports in California. The legal authority that controls betting on sports is a tangled web of federal and state laws. Though many states allow casino gaming and have state lotteries, gambling on sports exists in its own tightly controlled legal world. The legalization of mobile sports betting, online casinos and poker remains a complex and thorny issue. Current legal online betting options in California consist of daily fantasy sports and horse racing.

Can you bet on sports online in california

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.

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

Sports

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.

Daily fantasy sports in California

Can You Bet On Sports Online 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.

Can You Bet On Sports Online In California

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.

In light of the Supreme Court decision, bettors everywhere want to know if sports betting is now legal in California. The true answer to this question is yes, it is now legal for the state of California to allow residents to bet on sports. But it is only possible right now through online offshore sportsbooks. For land-based and state-licensed sportsbooks, lawmakers will first have to legalize sports gambling and renegotiate the state-tribal compacts that are in place with Indian casinos. The state will also need to determine if card rooms will be able to accept sports wagers. In the meantime, residents can continue to use the legal California sports betting sites that are based offshore.

Is It Now Legal To Bet On Sports In California?

In light of the Supreme Court decision, bettors everywhere want to know if sports betting is now legal in California. The true answer to this question is yes, it is now legal for the state of California to allow residents to bet on sports. That being said, lawmakers will first have to legalize sports gambling and renegotiate the state-tribal compacts that are in place with Indian casinos. The state will also need to determine if card rooms will be able to accept sports wagers. In the meantime, residents can continue to use the legal California sports betting sites that are based offshore.

California is The Land of Sunshine and Opportunity, and residents of California have the opportunity to gamble at online sportsbooks without fear of prosecution. Californians have pretty easy access to land-based casino gaming, but online sports betting sites are so much more convenient than even a gaming site in your neighborhood that some Californians will always prefer Internet-based sports wagering.

Sports Betting Laws in California

The state of California doesn’t have any laws concerning Internet gambling at all, and it appears that sports wagers placed from within state borders are safe, as long as you are not running an online sportsbook, which would run afoul of existing federal law. You should have no concerns when it comes to legal California sports betting because there are currently no laws on the books. That could change in the future if lawmakers decide to introduce sports betting legislation. There have been some attempts in the past to legalize and regulate sports betting, but they have all failed. But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be more attempts in the future. For now though, there are no California sports betting laws that govern the industry or prevent bettors from wagering at offshore online sportsbooks.

Will I Go to Jail for Online Sports Betting in California?

The short answer is: “No.” Not only have there never been any arrests made in California for online gambling, the state’s penal code doesn’t cover Internet wagering at all, meaning there is no law on the books that California-based online gamblers can break. A recent change in the focus of the 1961 Federal Wire Act indicates that the US government is only interested in cracking down on providers of sports betting, not on California online sports bettors themselves.

Legal Sports Betting Sites For California Residents
All States ex. NY, NJ, NV, DE, MD

Bovada is a legitimate and trusted sportsbook for California residents ready to begin betting on their favorite sports teams. The sports betting site offers a wide range of odds allowing Los Angeles Chargers fans a chance to bet on the game outcomes, point spread, or team and player stats. Players can place future bets which gives you a chance to predict how far a team will go in the postseason or you can use the live betting feature and bet on what will happen in the game while the game is in play.

All States - ex NJ, NV, NY

BetOnline is another popular online offshore sportsbook that offers an easy way to bet on sports. Sports fans in California will enjoy the variety of wagering types to choose from on the site such as points spread, money lines, futures, and prop bets that take the betting experience to another level. With prop bets, bettors can place wagers on things like “what will be the first score of the game?” or “how many field goals will be kicked?”.

All States - ex NJ, NV, NY

A secure sportsbook that is available in California and provides a legal platform for bettors to place wagers on sports is SportsBetting. As a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, betting on SportsBetting can be a lot of fun by betting on live games and placing bets like “Will this game go to extra innings?” or “Will the third batter of this inning strikeout?” while watching the game in real-time. There are also parlay bets that allow you to bet on multiple games and bet lines. MyBookie

All States - ex NJ, NV, NY

MyBookie is another online offshore sports betting site for sports bettors in the state. The sportsbook provides odds on various teams and players of professional sports around the world. MyBookie offers a mobile version of the sportsbook that allows you to go out to eat or even to the game and still be able to place bets and make deposits on your phone. Players commonly deposit funds into their accounts by using e-checks, debit or credit cards, or cryptocurrencies.

All 50 States

Xbet is available for bettors in California when betting on the Golden State Warriors or any other teams. There are many NBA bet lines that cover the draft, regular season, and the playoffs. On top of that, the sportsbook also has international sports, NCAA football and basketball, entertainment, political, and horse racing odds on the site for you to enjoy. You can also place wagers on this wide range of events and games using a mobile device or tablet.

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How Federal Laws Inpact California Sports Betting

Federal laws impact legal California sports betting in many of the same ways that they effect other states. The law that once had the most influence on sports betting was the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). PASPA made it illegal for state governments to establish land-based sportsbooks. The only exceptions were Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon which already had sportsbooks or sports lotteries. On May 14th, 2018, the federal law was ruled unconstitutional and the federal ban on sports wagering came to an end.

The Wire Act of 1961 was one of the first federal sports betting laws but it still has implications today. The law makes it illegal for gambling operators to use wire communications to transmit interstate sports wagers and information related to bets. Though this only included telephones and telegraphs during its enactment, the Wire Act now extends to sports wagers placed over the internet. However, like most laws, it only applies to US-based operators, not casual bettors. This means that although it seems like online sports betting is illegal, it doesn’t actually do anything to prevent you from making your bets on an online offshore sportsbook.

The Unlawful Internet and Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) is one of the most misleading federal laws. The name suggests that internet gambling is illegal, but the law does not prohibit any type of gambling. The UIGEA is a banking regulation that imposes special rules for payment processors and banks that handle online gambling transactions. The law is not directed toward bettors no matter how you look at it, and it only effects sports bettors by making some deposit options less reliable than others - i.e. credit cards. The best way to get around this law legally is by using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Can You Legally Bet On Sports Online In California

The legal sports betting age in California is either 18 or 21. As there are no land-based sportsbooks in C.A., online sports betting sites are your best bet. Online sportsbooks will often have their own age requirements – accepting bettors as early as 18 years old – which is perfect for California residents. Always wait until you are of legal sports betting age and verify the requirements before visiting an establishment. Underage gambling is a risk that you should not take, unless you want your account to be suspended or terminated.

Legal Sportsbook Deposits and Withdrawals Available In California

One of the most important aspects of online sports betting is being able to make legal deposits and withdrawals. Legal California sports betting sites will always offer several convenient methods that bettors can use to move money around their accounts. Bitcoin is the best banking method that sports fans can use. The digital currency is decentralized, meaning that there is no central bank to decline your payment. Transactions are 100% guaranteed, whether making a deposit or requesting a withdrawal. Online sports betting sites do not charge fees for using bitcoin, and deposits are applied to our account almost instantly. When requesting a withdrawal, your funds will reach your wallet in as little as 5 hours.

Other legal deposit methods include checks, bank wire transfers, and gift cards. You can learn more about the banking options that specific sites provide by reading our legal online sportsbook reviews.

How Can I Tell If An Online Book Is Legal and Regulated?

All legal California sports betting sites will have their credentials outlined on the site. Many times, there will be certification badges at the bottom of the home page, or, you can find information in the “About Us” section. You may also find regulatory details within the site’s terms and conditions.

Are Mobile Sports Betting Apps Available in California?

Can You Bet On Sports In California

Mobile sports betting apps are legal in California, with many residents preferring this flexible option while they are on the go. Online sportsbooks will offer a mobile platform that allows you to take your sportsbook to the bar, the office, a game, or anywhere else. You have access to the same wide selection of sports and wager types that you would from the desktop site. Instead of having to download a separate app, you can visit the online sports betting site from the browser on your smartphone or tablet and be directed to their responsive website. The mobile-optimized sportsbook saves you the time and space of having to download a traditional app.

Is It Legal To Bet On Live Games In California?

Live betting is one of the most exciting features provided by online sportsbooks- and it is completely legal. You can watch major sporting events like the NBA Playoffs and bet live on Golden State or any of your other favorite teams. Live betting odds are available throughout the game and you can bet props, moneylines, and totals. When you want the most interactive sports betting experience, wager on live betting odds.

Can You Legally Bet On Politics In California?

Legal California sports betting sites offer something for everyone, including entertainment and political betting odds. The political betting industry may see the most action near election time, but you can start betting on United States and European political events before votes are cast. In the Props & Futures section, you will find a wide selection of betting odds including who will win the Presidential Election, which political party will take office, and much more.

Pro and College Teams in California to Bet On

Can I Bet On Sports Online In California

Legal California sports betting action is exciting because there are more pro and college teams to bet on than just about anywhere else. The Golden State has long been considered a sports mecca, and residents of the state will not be disappointed when they explore the different California teams to bet on at online sportsbooks. If we were to provide a full list it would be 20 + teams long, so we will provide you with some of the most popular CA teams to bet on.

College

  • UCLA Bruins
  • USC Trojans
  • Stanford Cardinal
  • UC Berkeley Golden Bears

Professional

Can You Bet On Sports Online In California
  • Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
  • Golden State Warriors (NBA)
  • LA Chargers (NFL)
  • LA Lakers (NBA)
  • Oakland A's (MLB)
  • Oakland Raiders (NFL)
  • San Diego Padres (MLB)
  • San Francisco 49'ers (NFL)
  • San Francisco Giants (MLB)