California Online Sports Betting Guide: Mobile Betting On The Way in Cali?

With just over 330 million people in the United States, there is no secret as to why the legal sports betting industry has been booming in the last year or more. With that said, over 10% of the country’s population resides in California, a state that has not legalized or regulated legal sports betting in the state. With Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, and other states already allowing sports betting…California has all eyes turned on them. Let’s take a look at the latest legal sports betting updated for California. Here is a look at which sportsbooks could be available once the state allows for legal sports betting, and when Californians could wager on their favorite teams.

California Legal Sports Betting Update

A sponsor of legislation that would legalize sports betting in California said he was pulling the bill because of opposition from tribal-casino operators https://t.co/YWH74s0BHN
— Bloomberg (@business) June 22, 2020

The latest updated on sports betting in California is a bleak one. In the summer of 2020, a bill to legalize sports betting was pulled due to tribal-casino operators opposing the bill. With most industry experts speculating that sports betting may not come to California even in 2021, it seems that 2022 or 2023 is the most likely. As of July, tribal casinos were granted the ability to start gathering information to qualify for potential sports betting offerings in 2022. With Nevada, Oregon, and other states around California offering betting, this seems like a poor decision. Nevertheless, sports betting is not far in California, but it is not close either.

As soon as legal sports betting is allowed in California, one thing is for sure: it will be a massive market.

Potential California Online Sportsbooks and Mobile Apps

Whenever California goes live for legal mobile sports betting, there is little doubt that the biggest players in the sports betting space will look to enter the state given its population and rich sports history. Here are some of the top sportsbooks available that could go live in California when the time comes.

DraftKings Sportsbook California

FOX Bet Sportsbook California

BetMGM Sportsbook California

When Can I Bet on Sports in California?

JUST IN: A bill that would have legalized — and taxed — sports betting was removed from consideration by its sponsor in the face of opposition from the 62 American Indian tribes that operate casinos in California. https://t.co/xxWVUCmtKa
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) June 23, 2020

Whenever California allows legal sports betting, there will be a large influx of bettors injected into the market. As discussed here, industry leaders are already preparing for the inevitable of when California launches, not if. Monkey Knife Fight is a DFS company that has already formed partnerships in the state, getting ready for California. The quote from MKF’s founder Bill Asher tells all:

“Let’s say California becomes legal,” Asher said. “If you’ve got 1 million people playing on your fantasy sports site, well, all of a sudden you’re going to get a license and offer them a gambling sports site.”

Expect to be able to wager on sports in California in the next two to three years, as some think 2022 or 2023 is the most likely. One of the largest hurdles will be the tribes in California, who certainly oppose a statewide mobile sports betting bill.

Mobile Sports Betting in California

One of the most important parts of legal sports betting across the legal states is the ability to wager with mobile devices. When California legalizes sports betting, it will be imperative that they do the same. Should mobile sports betting apps be allowed from mobile platforms, here are some of the apps we can expect in California:

Types of Sports Betting in California

Sports betting is not legal in California as of fall 2020, but once legislation is passed in the state here are the betting types we can expect to see:

Moneylines
Totals
Spreads
Parlays and Teasers
Props
Futures
Live Betting
and more!

What sports can I bet on in California

While there are no laws that allow sports betting in California that allow for legal sports betting, at some point the state will offer legal sports wagering. When that happens, here are the sports expected to be offered:

Auto Racing
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Boxing
Cricket
Football
Golf
Hockey
Lacrosse
Mixed Martial Arts
Olympics
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track and Field

California Sports Betting Law

California lawmakers shelve effort this year to legalize sports betting https://t.co/AWMOzAfbNk
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) June 23, 2020

As of 2020, there was no sports betting law in California that would allow for bettors to wager on sports legally in the state. With a large number of Californians living in the southern part of the state, some take a short drive or flight to Nevada to place their wagers. California is always a big player when it comes to legalization, as the biggest state in the US. As of fall 2020, there is no sports betting law…despite efforts from politicians. California has taken some steps though, including discussions to tweak legislation, tribal casinos being a part of the conversation, and more.

California Sports Betting Frequently Asked Questions

Is sports betting legal in California?

As of early 2021, sports betting was not yet legalized in California.

When can I bet on sports in California?

There is no exact date, but it looks like California will not have legal sports betting in 2021. Some speculate 2023 at the earliest.

Are there legal betting sportsbooks or apps in California?

No. There are no legal betting apps or sportsbooks in California as of early 2021.