There are currently no legal real-money California sports betting apps. Sports betting is not legal in California in 2023, and it will likely not be legal in 2024 either.
California residents voted against two sports betting propositions in Prop 26 and Prop 27 on the November 2022 ballot. Since these measures failed to pass, 2024 is the next time lawmakers can try to win voter approval for legal California sports betting apps.
Best Free Betting Apps for Cash Prizes in California
Free betting-style apps like Fliff social sportsbook offer an alternative to Californians while legal online betting remains at a standstill. Fliff sportsbook allows customers to play for free. You can play in two modes: social or sweepstakes.
The social mode uses Fliff coins to place social wagers, earn more coins, and redeem prizes. Fliff coins have no cash value. Similar to top betting sites, in sweepstakes mode, you can use Fliff cash that you have earned on the site to socially bet on various sports and earn cash prizes.
California Sports Betting: What You Should Know
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Population | 39.6 million |
| Legal age for sports betting | 21 |
| Online sports betting | No |
| Retail sportsbooks | No |
| Sports betting revenue | NA |
| Online horse racing | Yes |
| DFS | Yes |
| Lottery | Yes |
| Card Rooms | Yes |
| Tribal Casinos | Yes |
Top-Rated DFS Sites In California
While sports betting apps are unavailable in California, daily fantasy sports apps like DraftKings and FanDuel are a legal alternative for those 18 and over. Operators offer daily and weekly NFL, MLB, NBA, and PGA fantasy contests where the entry fee can be $1 or less and the prize pools exceed $1,000. Users set what they think is a winning lineup and earn points depending on how well that roster performs. The more points you score, the better your chances of taking home a share of the prize pool.
Deposit match
$20 Deposit Bonus
Users can take advantage of other top-rated DFS sites in California, like the SuperDraft Fantasy site and Underdog Fantasy Sports.
California Sports Betting Updates
- November 9, 2022 – Both Prop 26 and Prop 27 fail to pass in California, ending the hopes for sports betting in 2023. This sets the market back another 2-years before a potential launch.
- October 26, 2022 – A new poll shows just 26% of potential voters would vote in favor of Prop 27, with 34% voting in favor of Prop 26.
- October 25, 2022 – Governor Gavin Newsom officially denounces Prop 27, further hurting the measure’s chances of passing.
- October 17, 2022 – The San Diego Union-Tribune and KGTV 10 News released a new poll regarding sports betting in California. This poll revealed an increase in potential voters in favor of both Prop 26 and Prop 27.
- October 11, 2022 – During the 2022 Global Gaming Expo G2E, CEOs of DraftKings and FanDuel both declared they anticipate sports betting failing to pass in November. They are setting their sites on 2024 now.
- September 14, 2022 – An independent poll showed that Pop 27 is not favored by potential voters, with 54% polling against the measure.
- September 3, 2022 – The “Yes on 27” campaign released an advertisement in response to the anti-Prop 27 ads.
Is Sports Betting Legal In California?
California sports betting apps are not legal and won’t be anytime soon. This is a result of Prop 26 and Prop 27 being rejected by voters on the 2022 November ballot.
Prop 26 Details
Prop 26, which was backed by the tribes, did not include online/mobile wagering. Had it been approved, only California land-based tribal casinos and horse racing tracks would’ve offered retail sports wagering. The proposition also included provisions to allow for dice games and roulette at tribal casinos. This bill was more restrictive than Prop 27, requiring patrons to place wagers in-person at select locations. While the tribes were in favor of it, it wasn’t as heavily marketed as Prop 27 and wouldn’t have the potential to bring in as much revenue for the state as Prop 27.
Prop 27 Details
Prop 27 received the backing of the state legislator. This plan would’ve allowed for online sports gambling in California. Anyone 21 or older would have been able to sign up for a sportsbook account and place a wager from anywhere within state lines. State officials found that Prop 27 had the potential to bring in hundreds of millions in taxes and fees to California. Tribes were not a fan of this plan because out-of-state gaming companies would control a big share of the gambling profits. The tribes also did not support Prop 27 because it would permit California cardrooms to continue offering house-backed card games, which they allege is illegal.
The Path To Legal Sports Betting Apps In California
Since Prop 26 and Prop 27 failed to pass, 2024 is the earliest the bills can be presented on the ballot again. For either measure to make it across the finish line, lobbyists, tribal leaders, and lawmakers have some serious work ahead as they try again to earn voter approval. Time will tell what revisions, if any, will be made. It’s expected to be an uphill battle after voters opposed both initiatives by more than 60% the last time.
If either initiative eventually receives enough votes, California will have a clearer path to legalize sports betting and begin working toward a launch date.
Top Potential California sports betting apps
Top sportsbook operators are currently navigating the California sports betting market landscape. Future launch plans will be based on the passing of upcoming legislation. If the brick-and-mortar sportsbook model wins voter approval, many companies may decide not to enter California, since the bulk of sports betting revenue is generated via mobile sports betting.
However, if a California legislative effort similar to Prop 27 moves forward, the market will be much more attractive as it could potentially be one of the most profitable in the US.
Under that scenario, there would be a substantial number of companies interested in entering the market, including:
- Caesars Sportsbook: Besides having one of the most generous new customer offers available, the Caesars Rewards and Tier Credits you earn can be used at Caesars Palace and sister properties on the Las Vegas Strip. Odds boosts and super parlays are a couple of the regular promos available.
- BetMGM: BetMGM has that Hollywood connection with the likes of Jamie Foxx and Vanessa Hudgens appearing in commercials. From a betting standpoint, customers enjoy what’s referred to as the “Lion’s Boost” and popular same-game parlays.
- FanDuel Sportsbook: With FanDuel currently offering DFS in California, adding a CA sports betting app would be a logical next step. Plus, FanDuel is one of the top-performing operators in other legal sports wagering markets. FanDuel Sportsbook customers will notice promos centered around different pro sports, such as Dinger Tuesdays (during MLB season, where bonus bets are in play) and profit boosts.
- DraftKings Sportsbook: Like FanDuel, DraftKings is live in California via its DFS product. This means there is an established customer base should California mobile sports betting eventually become legal. DK customers in other states enjoy odds surges and quick same-game parlay builders.
Who Can bet on sports In California
It’s currently illegal to sports bet in California. If and when California sports betting apps are legalized, here is what it might look like.
| Legal Age: Once sports wagering is legalized, you can expect 21 will be the legal age to place a bet. . | Remote Registration: It seems reasonable that remote registration will be available when California approves mobile sports betting apps. |
| Mobile Betting: It’s too early to say if mobile betting will be available in the Golden State. | Retail Sportsbooks: If tribal brick-and-mortar casino locations and California racetracks are approved for sports betting, you can expect retail sportsbooks to open at locations throughout the state. |
| Within State Borders: If CA mobile sports betting does pass, gamblers will be required to place bets within state lines. | Taxable Winnings: If California passes legislation, it will include details regarding the tax rate on sports betting winnings. |
How To Sign Up For A Sportsbook In California
If and when California mobile sports betting apps go live, the sign-up process may look like this:
1. Find a California sportsbook app
iOS users will download the desired sportsbook app in the App Store, and Android users will use the Google Play Store. New customers can also complete this step via their web browser.
2. Register for an account
After selecting a California online sportsbook app, users will complete a quick registration process. Be prepared to provide the following information:
- Name
- Age
- Address
- Phone number
- Social security number for tax purposes
- Valid e-mail address if online account
3. Claim Bonus
Once sports betting is live, sportsbooks will roll out welcome/new customer offers. TheLines is the place to find the best sportsbook promo codes currently available from top sports betting sites. Deals typically include bonus bets or no-sweat bets.
4. Deposit
Before placing that first bet, you’ll need to deposit funds into your sportsbook account. Most operators require a minimum $10 deposit. CA sports betting apps will likely offer multiple banking options, including PayPal and Venmo. You might want to consider the best PayPal betting sites or the best Venmo betting sites before placing a wager.
5. Bet
Once California sports betting is legal, look at NFL Week 1 odds to bet on the L.A. Chargers or San Francisco 49ers. If NBA betting is more your game, wagering on the L.A. Lakers to win the NBA championship will be another option. With the L.A. Dodgers among the MLB championship favorites once again, the World Series odds are worth a look.
6. Withdraw Funds
If California approves sports betting, we expect operators will offer the same withdrawal methods currently available in legal states like Colorado and Illinois.
These withdrawal methods include:
- ACH/E-check
- Check
- Paypal
- Prepaid card supplied by the operator
Before completing the transaction, take a look at the fastest sportsbook payouts.
California Sports Teams
Besides being the largest US state in terms of population, California could be one of the nation’s biggest sports betting markets. A big reason is all four of the major pro sports leagues are represented by multiple teams:
- Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
- Oakland A’s (MLB)
- San Diego Padres (MLB)
- San Francisco Giants (MLB)
- Los Angeles Chargers (NFL)
- Los Angeles Rams (NFL)
- San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
- Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
- Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
- Golden State Warriors (NBA)
- Sacramento Kings (NBA)
- Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
- Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
- San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Additionally, California will be a huge Super Bowl betting market as the Golden State has hosted the Big Game 13 times, including eight in the Los Angeles area.
We do not know if wagering on college sports teams will be permitted. Like the pros, California has a plethora of popular schools, including:
- UCLA
- USC
- San Diego State University
- University of California
- Stanford University
Pasadena is home college football’s Rose Bowl – nicknamed “The Granddaddy of Them All.”
California Daily Fantasy Sports Vs. Sports Betting
When entering a Daily Fantasy Sports contest, operators such as DraftKings or FanDuel will set the player prices, but players are not competing against the house like with sports betting. Every contest has an entry limit and payout structure. You compete against other DFS players, and the results are 100% based on player performances from that day’s games. Entry fees can be as small as $1.
With sports betting, the house, like Caesars Sportsbook or BetMGM, sets lines or odds for games, and gamblers must decide which side to play. Sportsbooks only pay out the wagers if the ticket is a winner. There are several different types of bets, including a moneyline bet, total, spread, or prop wager.
California sports betting apps FAQ
No, you can’t legally bet on sports in California.
Since Prop 26 and Prop 72 failed to win voter approval, 2024 is the earliest sports betting legislation could pass in California.
No, you can’t legally wager on any sports at California casinos.
You can legally play table games and slots at one of California’s 66 tribal casinos. You also can legally bet on horses at California racetracks, with Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Golden Gate Fields being a few of the bigger ones. There are 50-plus CA card rooms where playing poker is legal.
The legal California gambling age ranges between 18 and 21. Poker rooms and racetracks are 18+ and land-based casinos are 21+ if alcohol is served. You also must be 18 or over to play daily fantasy sports.
The DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports app is live in California.
FanDuel offers Daily Fantasy Sports in California.
You currently can not bet on California-based sports teams within state lines. However, you can wager on California-based teams in neighboring Arizona and Nevada, where retail and mobile sports betting is legal.