Best California Sports Betting Sites 2025 – CA Betting Apps Reviewed

Legal sports betting in California could be years away due to ongoing disputes among key stakeholders: Native American tribes, card rooms, and online betting operators. Tribes seek to maintain exclusive control over gambling at their casinos, while card rooms and sportsbook operators advocate for broader access. Legal battles and contentious advertising campaigns have muddled public understanding, and in 2022, voters rejected both proposed California sports betting measures at the ballot.

But all hope isn’t lost for CA sports fans who still want to bet on their favorite teams. With offshore sportsbooks, you can place wagers on local teams, including collegiate staples. Our team of gambling experts has highlighted the best ones to play at. We will also discuss California’s legal sports betting landscape in more detail.

Best Sites for Online Sports Betting in California 2025

California Sports Betting Facts

The table below presents some basic facts regarding CA sports betting and other gambling-related activities.

Is Sports Betting Legal in California?

Sports betting in California, online or retail, is prohibited, but not because there has been no push for it. Earlier attempts by Sen. Dodd and Assemblyman Gray (ACA 16 and SCA-6) proposed allowing retail and online sports betting at tribal casinos. However, these bills failed due to tight deadlines and tribal opposition.

The tribes then presented Proposition 26, which proposed legalizing retail sports betting at tribal casinos and four private racetracks. Another stakeholder, online operators, also presented a ballot measure (Proposition 27) that proposed legalizing statewide online and mobile sports betting.

Both made the November 2022 ballot but were unpopular among voters. Proposition 26, the tribal sports betting measure, was rejected by 70% of California voters, while Proposition 27, backed by online sportsbooks, saw 83% vote no. Ideally, 2024 was another chance for proponents to try again, but they have called off all efforts.

Major Perks of the Best California Sportsbooks

Here is a list of the best California sportsbooks and their standout features

1. BetOnline – Best Sports Betting Site in California for 2025
2. BetWhale – Online Gambling California App with Deep Esports Betting Markets and Flexepin Support
3. BetNow – Parlay Multiple Prop Bets on the Giants, Dodgers, Athletics, and Other Local MLB Teams
4. Bovada – Competitive and Early Betting Odds on NBA Futures Markets
5. MyBookie – Top CA Sports Betting Site for NCAAB Betting
6. CoinCasino – Create Same Game Parlays Using its Bet Builder
7. Everygame – User-Friendly Sports Betting Site
8. BetUS – YouTube Show Showing Weekly Expert Picks and Predictions on All Sports
9. SportsBetting.ag – A Host of Sports-Targeted Bonuses and Promotions
10. XBet – A Mobile-Friendly Sportsbook with Detailed In-Play Stats

Best California Betting Sites Reviewed

This section discusses the top five California betting sites in greater detail. What sports/bet types do these offshore sportsbooks offer? How many payment options are available? What parts could they improve upon?

BetOnline – Best Sports Betting Site in California for 2025

• Established in: 1991
• Headquarters: Panama City, Panama
• Licensed in: Panama
• Accepted payment methods: Cards, Wire Transfer, Crypto, Person2Person, Check
• Number of sports: 25+

📍Overview

BetOnline is our number-one pick for online sports betting in California. The Panama-licensed California sportsbook provides competitive odds and multiple prop bet options on the 49ers, Giants, and other CA local teams.

🏈 Sports and Bet Types Offered

BetOnline offers money lines, spreads, totals, futures, props, alternates, parlays, if bets, and teasers on 25+ sports betting categories, including niche ones like financials, entertainment, and politics.

It is one of the sharpest sportsbooks online, with early betting lines on events like the Super Bowl a month before the regular season starts. This means you can lock in value before betting lines are adjusted to reflect teams’ in-season performance.  The Panama-licensed betting site is one of the perfect destinations for live betting with live-game trackers, real-time updates, and live streaming of select games. Furthermore, it has a dedicated lobby for esports betting, with betting lines on Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Valorant, and King of Glory.

💵 Banking Methods

Players can deposit using 16 cryptocurrencies, including memes and trendy tokens like SHIB and TRUMP. Traditional options like credit/debit cards and bank transfers are also available. Crypto on BetOnline is a great deposit option for high rollers, with a maximum deposit limit of $1,000,000. Transactions are low and processed within 15 minutes to 2 hours.

💰 Sportsbook Promotions

Like every other sportsbook, it has a welcome offer, albeit small on a pure dollar basis (250 in free bets). However, it makes up for this with an extensive collection of some of the best California sportsbook promos. Some of them are:

• LaLiga Money Line Insurance – Get up to $50 in free bets if the team you back scores 3+ goals but draws or loses
• MLB Dime Lines – Up to $100 refund if the opposing team’s pitcher throws a no-hitter
• UFC Split Decision Refund – Up to a $250 refund if your selection loses via split decision
• The Masters Playoff Insurance – Up to $50 refund if your backed golfer loses in a playoff

There is also a Book My Bet promotion, which lets you suggest a good prop you wish you could bet on but haven’t been offered anywhere.

💡 Special Features

One of BetOnline’s special features is its mega parlays. It’s a preset tab where you can find a preset parlay of good sports picks with betting odds of 20,000+ odds. The sportsbooks also provide odds boosts/enhanced odds on select games, increasing your payout potential if selected.

❌ Cons

• Less competitive welcome offer

🎁 Bonus

• Welcome Promotion: 50% up to $250 (free bets) + 100 free spins
• Wagering Requirement: None
• Minimum Deposit: $50
• Expiration: 30 days
• Additional Details: New signups get half their deposits back in free bet credits

BetWhale – Online Gambling California App with Deep Esports Betting Markets and Flexepin Support

• Established in: 2023
• Headquarters: Willmestad, Curacao
• Licensed in: Anjouan
• Accepted payment methods: Cards, Crypto
• Number of sports: 20+

📍Overview

Although BetWhale is a newer face in the industry, it has become a favorite among bettors, largely thanks to its esports offerings. It has a dedicated esports lobby with live streams and a wide range of betting lines.

🏈 Sports and Bet Types Offered

Although BetWhale offers deep betting markets on 20+ sports, it’s best known for its esports markets. On clicking its dedicated esports lobby, we found Twitch-embedded live streams of the day’s most important tournaments. You can also find a sidebar with up to 15 video games to wager on, more than we saw anywhere else.

There are extensive options on these games, too. For example, with popular picks like Counter Strike, you can find 20+ tournaments to participate in on any given day.

💵 Banking Methods

BetWhale is one of the few gambling sites with Flexepin and Neosurf support. These gift cards are ideal for anonymous players who don’t want gambling transactions showing up on their credit/debit balance monthly reports. Other supported options are PayPal, Visa, Amex, Discover, and nine crypto tokens.

💰 Sportsbook Promotions

Promo-wise, BetWhale does not offer as many as BetOnline, but its welcome offer is more valuable. New signups get a 125% deposit bonus for sports with a minimal deposit of $50 (compared to BetOnline’s $100). It also has several seasonal promotions, including its Easter 10% rebate on all sports events.

💡 Special Features

One of BetWhale’s standout features is its Visa payout. In comparison, most California betting apps only allow bank and crypto withdrawals.

❌ Cons

• Low payout limit of $2,500 on all payment options

🎁 Bonus

• Welcome Promotion: 125% up to $1,250
• Wagering Requirement: 10x
• Minimum Deposit: $50
• Expiration: 30 days
• Additional Details: No max cashout limit till wagering requirement is met

BetNow – Parlay Multiple Prop Bets on the Giants, Dodgers, Athletics, and Other Local MLB Teams

• Established in: 2015
• Headquarters: London, England
• Licensed in: Curacao
• Accepted Payment Methods: Cards, Crypto
• Number of sports: 10+

📍Overview

BetNow is a mobile-friendly site with several MLB attractions, including high prop betting volume and weekly contests. It also has an industry-leading rebate program.

🏈 Sports and Bet Types Offered

BetNow has the most lines on the Giants, Dodgers, and other MLB teams. For example, in a derby game between the Giants and Dodgers, we found numerous lines on markets like pitcher props, first inning, alternate lines, correct score, and run markets. The sportsbook also offers lines on NCAA baseball and baseball leagues abroad.

BetNow isn’t where you want to be if you’re looking to explore markets in more niche categories like Financials, Politics, or Entertainment. It’s more focused on traditional California favorites like football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and hockey, as well as international attractions like UFC and tennis.

💵 Banking Methods

BetNow offers multiple ways to fund your account, including Visa, American Express, BCH, Mastercard, Bitcoin, and Person2Person. It is one of the few offshore sports betting sites supporting Zelle deposits. However, this might be more tedious to process, as the site requires a selfie ID to complete a Zelle deposit.

💰 Sportsbook Promotions

BetNow markets itself as a sportsbook with an industry-leading rebate program, and it really is. The sportsbook has a 2% rebate on all sportsbook bets and 10% on horse race betting. All are deposited automatically and do not need an extra action or bonus code to claim.

There are also re-up bonuses up to $500 for sportsbook bets. Other bonuses include welcome bonuses (up to 3), an alternative deposit bonus for those crypto sports betting, and a refer-a-friend bonus.

💡 Special Features

BetNow gives away $25,000 in its Grand Slam Weekly Contest every week of the regular MLB season. All you have to do to win is select the straight-up winners from the 28 MLB games with the tiebreaker.

❌ Cons

Low payout limit of $2,500 on all payment options

🎁 Bonus

• Welcome Promotion: 100% up to $500 deposit match for all fiat deposits
• Wagering Requirement:12x
• Minimum Deposit: 20x
• Expiration: 30 days
• Additional Details: Can be redeemed using the promo code “BN100”

Bovada – Competitive and Early Betting Odds on NBA Futures Betting Markets

• Established in: 2011
• Headquarters: Costa Rica
• Licensed in: Union of the Comoros
• Accepted Payment Methods: Cards, Crypto, Bank transfer, Vouchers
• Number of sports: 20+

📍Overview

Bovada is another top sports betting destination for Californians. Here, you can suggest unpublished lines on the Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, and Kings. Using #WhatsYaWager on X.com, Bovada users can request a custom betting line they fancy.

🏈 Sports and Bet Types Offered

Although the sportsbook offers betting odds on a wide range of sports, its NBA markets caught our immediate attention. It has a dedicated NBA futures page where you can bet on the Conference Finals, NBA Championships and exact playoffs match you expect to see. An example is a bet on the Warriors to win the Western Conference or the Lakers to play against the Thunder in the West semis.

💵 Banking Methods

You can deposit on Bovada using cards, crypto, vouchers, and bank transfers. The maximum deposit limits range from $450 (direct bank transfer) to $5,000 (crypto) and $15,000 (player transfer). With crypto deposit options like Tether and Bitcoin, you can deposit as low as $5 and $10, respectively. It is worth noting that your first deposit is free if you use a credit card. However, subsequent deposits will be charged at 15.9% and higher.

💰 Sportsbook Promotions

Bovada offers two welcome bonuses—one for fiat and the other for crypto deposits. Fiat users get a $250 bonus upon crediting their accounts with a minimum of $20. You get an extra $750 bonus if you use crypto.

💡 Special Features

One of Bovada’s best features is its loaded poker lobby. Here, you can find lots of poker tournaments to join. It is a US-facing skin of the PaiWanLuo poker network, which has a variety of poker games and players from other sites like Ignition Poker and Bodog88.

❌ Cons

• Additional security checks may make bank transactions slow

🎁 Bonus

• Welcome Promotion: 50% up to $250 for fiat deposits
• Wagering Requirement: 5x
• Minimum Deposit: $20
• Expiration: 6 months
• Additional Details: Does not require a promo code

MyBookie – Top CA Online Sports Betting Site for NCAAB Betting

• Established in: 2014
• Headquarters: Costa Rica
• Licensed in: Curacao
• Accepted Payment Methods: Cards, Crypto
• Number of sports: 20+

📍Overview

MyBookie is a top CA online sports betting app for placing bets. They nail almost every department, from the number of betting markets per game to payment options and promotions.

🏈 Sports and Bet Types Offered

At MyBookie, you can find up to 20+ sports to bet on. This is the best spot for betting on the NCAAB. It features regular contests on the NCAAB, one of which is its March Madness $150k Bracket contest. Each entry costs $20, $5 cheaper than BetOnline’s Sweet 16 Bracket Contest. The winning prize is $25,000 worth of BTC.

💵 Banking Methods

Like all our recommended gambling options, MyBookie offers many secure banking methods. These include 10 crypto options: BTC, LTC, SOL, and DOGE. Visa and Mastercard are also available. The crypto options have no maximum limits.

💰 Sportsbook Promotions

MyBookie offers a standard welcome offer of 50% up to $1,000. But that’s not all. You also get ongoing bonuses like a 10% horse race rebate, plus 35% and 55% sports reload bonuses for fiat and crypto users.

💡 Special Features

Some of MyBookie’s special features include Top Bets and Bet Boosts tabs, which give you insights into trending bets and bets with enhanced odds. A regularly updated news tab keeps users posted on everything from NCAA games to cricket.

❌ Cons

• Email responses may be slow

🎁 Bonus

• Welcome Promotion: 50% up to $1,000
• Wagering Requirement: 10x
• Minimum Deposit: 50x
• Expiration: 2 weeks
• Additional Details: Redeem using promo code “MB50”

Best California Sportsbook Promos

The table below highlights the welcome promotion at each of our ranked sportsbooks.

How We Rate the Top Platforms for CA Online Sports Betting

Our list of the best California sports betting sites to play at results from a thorough review of hundreds of betting sites offering bets on CA pro and college teams. The reviewed sites were ranked based on:

Accessibility from CA

Of course, to make our list, it has to be accessible from California. In our evaluation process, bonus points were awarded to sites that could be accessed without a VPN.

Safety and Security

Only safe and secure sites to play at made our final Top 10. We ranked all reviewed sites based on their security protocol, licensing, privacy policy, and payout guarantee, and our recommended sites came out on top.

Sports and Market Coverage

Our recommended sites cover American staples like the NFL, NCAAF, and NBA, plus niche categories like golf betting, snooker, and darts. They also offer betting lines on college player props unavailable on U.S.-regulated sportsbooks.

Special Features

We prioritized betting sites with special features over those without. BetOnline, for example, streams games live and has an extensive selection of sports-targeted promotions. Another pick, Bovada, allows you to request unique props outside its standard bet options.

Banking Options

Our ranked sportsbooks offer Californians the most convenient banking options, including credit/debit cards, crypto, e-wallets, and more.

Sports Bonuses and Promotions

We analyzed each site’s bonus terms and conditions to determine if it was a steal, as bonus face value isn’t all that matters. Our gambling experts favored sites with good welcome bonuses, ongoing bonuses, and promotions.

Customer Support

Another big consideration was the efficiency of the site’s customer support. The customer teams of our recommended sites responded the best to our queries. On sites with a live chat, we were connected to a human agent in less than a minute.

Legal Sports Betting in California – Key Details

Some key details other than sports betting in California being illegal that you might want to know:

What is the Legal Sports Betting Age in CA?

Sports betting in California is not legal, so the state has no official age requirement. However, its most advanced efforts (Propositions 26 and 27) set the age requirement at 21.

Proposition 26 would have allowed in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and racetracks for residents 21 and older. Proposition 27 would have also permitted online sports betting in California for persons who are at least 21 years old. That said, some gambling activities like horse racing betting and lottery are open to residents 18 years and older.

Which Authority Regulates Online Sports Betting in CA?

The California Gambling Control Commission oversees all current gambling activities in the state, including tribal casinos and card rooms. Logically, they should regulate California sports betting, too, if it’s legalized.

However, the most recent legalization efforts from 2022 proposed that sports betting be regulated by the Bureau of Gambling Control within the California Department of Justice.

Are There Any Taxes on CA Online Sports Betting Winnings?

Californians are not obligated to pay taxes on sports betting winnings, as there are no regulated betting apps in the state. Unlike U.S.-regulated sportsbooks, offshore sports betting sites—a popular alternative—do not report winnings. Since the U.S. does not regulate them, they aren’t legally required to issue a W-2G form or withhold 24% for payouts over $5k like U.S.-regulated sites.

Gambling profits in California aren’t hit with a special gambling tax. They’re counted as part of your regular income, so what you pay in taxes depends on your income bracket. Federally, that’s 10% to 37%; for California, it ranges between 1% and 12.3%. Say you’re single in California, earning $45,000 yearly, and win $30,000 from gambling. Your income rises to $75,000. California taxes jump from 4% to 9.3%, costing you $4,200, while federal taxes rise from 12% to 22%, adding $8,800.

How Do California Online Gambling Laws Compare With Neighboring States?

Living in California and itching to bet on the Lakers, 49ers, or Giants online? Unfortunately, you may need to cross the border if you must use U.S.-regulated sites. But where? Let’s find out.

Nevada

Nevada is and has always been a pro-sports betting state. It was the first to allow online bets in 2010 and the only state with legal sportsbooks before the repeal of PASPA in 2018. All forms of sports betting are legal in Nevada, including on college sports, which is illegal in many pro-sports betting states.

Oregon

Sports betting is legal and available north of California. Residents can wager on sports at Oregon’s four retail sportsbooks or DraftKings (it’s the only legal online option). The state’s other gambling options include horse racing, casinos, and daily fantasy sports.

Arizona

Unlike California, Arizona fully legalized sports betting in 2021. Both in-person and online sportsbooks are available, and the state also allows daily fantasy sports. In addition, Arizona offers horse racing, a state lottery, tribal casinos, and other forms of regulated gambling, making it one of the most gambling-friendly states bordering California.

California Sports Betting Timeline – The Road to Legislation

Why is sports betting in California still illegal despite all other forms of gambling being legal? What are the blockers, and how strong is the opposition? This section discusses all significant sports betting efforts and legislative movements over the years.

• 2024: California sports betting proponents call off all efforts to legalize sports betting in the state.
• 2023: Two new ballot initiatives are filed with the California Attorney General’s office. Its proponents were required to gather up to 875,000 signatures for it to appear on the November 2024 ballot. However, the tribes and California Nations Indian Gaming Association opposed the initiatives.
• 2022: The cardrooms twice challenged the legality of the tribes’ retail sports betting initiative in court. However, their case was thrown out, and they decided against further pursuing their sports betting interests. The tribes with one less opposition began concerted efforts to stop the online operators-backed proposal (Proposition 27). But they failed, and Proposition 27 joined Proposition 26 on the ballot. Californians voted on both propositions in November, which failed by wide margins.
• 2021: The tribes eventually succeeded in putting online sports betting (Proposition 26) on the ballot for California voters to decide. The cardrooms and online operators proposed unique, significantly different online sports betting concepts to join Prop 26. Both initiatives started gathering signatures to make the ballot, which they had until mid-2022 to do.
• 2020: Sen. Dodd and Assemblyman Gray held an informal hearing on California sports betting, but the tribes and cardrooms made no contributions at the meeting. The coronavirus pandemic halted signature-gathering efforts to put sports betting on the ballot.  Dodd and Gray pushed a bill for retail and online betting at casinos and racetracks, which was supported by card rooms but opposed by tribal leaders.
• 2019: Dodd and Gray pushed ACA16 and SCA6 to get sports betting on California’s ballot. They clearly intended to work with stakeholders to see how the state can develop its sports betting framework. Tribes skipped talks and launched their plan for limited betting at casinos and tracks.
• 2018: The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), giving states the right to legalize sports betting within their territory.

Banking Options at California Online Sports Betting Sites

Some of the banking options available at the best California online casinos and betting sites include:

Credit and Debit Cards

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted deposit options at CA sportsbooks. Some, like BetOnline, also take Discover or American Express, but that’s rarer. Deposits are instant and straightforward, but returning your winnings onto a card isn’t as simple. Most sites don’t allow card withdrawals, though a few, like BetWhale, do.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are popular among anonymous gamblers, as they don’t require sharing banking details. They are prepaid cards with a set amount. You can deposit quickly, usually with low or no fees, but you can’t typically withdraw winnings back to gift cards.

E-Wallets

Many California sports betting sites offer PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller as payment options. These are secure and fast, processing deposits within minutes. Withdrawals are quick, sometimes within hours, though fees can apply depending on the wallet.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies are a low-cost, anonymous banking option with instant deposits and withdrawals. The most widely used is Bitcoin (BTC). However, its gas fees may be high, especially when the BTC network is congested, making other options like Litecoin (LTC) more favored where available.

Bank Transfers

Despite potentially high fees, bank transfers are still popular among high rollers because they are secure and let you move big amounts directly. They are convenient and don’t require new setups since most people already have bank accounts. High fees and delays are offset by trust and withdrawal reliability.

Deposit Methods at CA Betting Sites

Take a look at how you can deposit funds into your account at each vetted sportsbook below:

Withdrawal Methods at CA Betting Sites

Remember that you can’t always withdraw your funds using the method you deposited with:

Popular Bet Types at Online California Sports Betting Sites

Californian sports fans can’t legally bet online yet, but offshore sportsbooks offer exciting options for those who do. From picking game winners to predicting scores, here are the most popular bet types at sites like BetOnline or Bovada.

Moneylines

A moneyline involves picking the outright winner of a game or match. Sportsbooks typically assign the minus odds to the favorite and the plus odds to the underdog. Moneylines may also be known as outright bets.

Point Spreads

A point spread bet wagers on a team’s margin of victory, balancing favorites and underdogs. If the 49ers are -7 versus the Seahawks, they must win by 8+ to cover; if +7 for the Warriors against the Kings, they cover by winning or losing by six or less. Odds are typically -110 for balanced payouts.

Totals (Over/Under)

Here, the sportsbook sets a number, and you place a wager on whether a team/player will score under or over the line. For example, in the derby game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, the former thumped the latter to a 6-4 win. With the line set at 9.5, you would win if you wagered on the over, but would lose if you backed the goals to be under 9.5.

Futures

A futures bet involves wagering on an outcome that will be decided in a few weeks to months. An example is picking a team to win the Super Bowl or World Series before or during the season.

Props

A prop bet is a bet on specific events within a game rather than on a game’s outcome. For example, betting on whether LeBron James scores over 25 points or if a Dodgers player hits a home run in a game. Props can cover stats like total strikeouts by a pitcher or even quirky stuff like the length of the national anthem.

Parlays

A parlay bet combines multiple bets into one, like picking the Lakers to win, the Dodgers to cover the spread, and over eight runs in a game. All your picks must win for the parlay to payout, offering more significant rewards but higher risk since one loss ruins the whole bet.

Live Betting

Live betting, or in-play wagering, enables bettors to place wagers during an ongoing event, with odds adjusting dynamically based on real-time developments. For instance, one might bet on the Golden State Warriors to score the next basket or the San Francisco Giants to record a run in the current inning.

Betting on California’s Favorite Sports

California is home to many pro and college teams. These teams, which have racked up Championships, Super Bowls, World Series, and Stanley Cup Finals over the years, include:

NFL

California has three pro NFL teams: the LA Chargers, the San Francisco 49ers, and the LA Rams. The 49ers are the most storied of all four, with five Super Bowl victories, only behind the Steelers and Patriots, who have six Super Bowls apiece.

BetOnline is our preferred NFL betting site and offers multiple NFL promotions and bonuses you can take advantage of. They include reload bonuses, insurance bets, odds boosts, and more.

NBA

The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are some of the most decorated teams in NBA history, with 24 rings shared between them. The former, in particular, have had some of the biggest names on their roster, including Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Lebron James. Other NBA teams representing California are the LA Clippers and Sacramento Kings.

We recommend SportsBetting.ag for NBA betting. It offers various betting markets with competitive odds on CA local teams. Contest and tournament hunters may also find several to join, including NFL/NBA/NCAA Survivor contests.

NHL

California boasts three NHL teams: the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks. The Kings lead with two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014), while the Ducks claimed one in 2007. The Sharks, despite a 2016 Finals run, have yet to win.

Icons like Wayne Gretzky and Teemu Selanne have starred here. Bovada provides diverse markets for NHL betting, including moneylines, puck lines, and player props, with competitive odds on California teams.

MLB

California has the most MLB teams, up to five (5). The San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Angels, and San Diego Padres represent the Golden State. The Oakland Athletics are the state’s biggest MLB exports, with nine World Series wins. However, the Giants and Dodgers have recorded more recent successes, with the Dodgers winning the World Series in 2024.

MyBookie is up there with the best MLB betting sites, offering multiple prop bet options on every game. In a regular-season contest, expect to find up to 15 betting markets to explore and make selections from.

Esports, Politics, Entertainment, and College Sports Betting in CA

There are no U.S.-regulated sportsbooks in California, but even in states where they operate, these sites offer betting lines only on pro and college sports, such as the NBA, NCAAB, golf, etc. Also, in some states, betting on college sports is legal, but wagering on college players is prohibited.

Looking for value beyond these options? On our recommended CA betting sites, you can explore college sports props betting, alternative markets like esports, political elections, and entertainment. These sites are based offshore and are not regulated within the U.S.

Some, including all of our recommended picks, are licensed and regulated, just not in the US. Respected jurisdictions like Malta, Curacao, Panama, Anjouan, and Mwali regulate these sites. They are safe to play at, and no one in California has been prosecuted for placing bets on them.

How To Sign Up with the No. 1-Ranked California Sports Betting Site Online

You may need to travel across the border to Oregon or move to Nevada to place online bets. But offshore sportsbooks are an option if you want to play online from the comfort of your home instead. Here’s how to set up a California sports betting account and play. We will be illustrating this using BetOnline.

Visit BetOnline

Go to betonline.ag and select ‘JOIN’ at the top right corner of your home page to begin the registration process.

Complete the Registration Form

Fill out the registration form that pops up. You must enter your name, email, password, postal code, date of birth, country, and phone number. Then, select ‘Create Account’.

Deposit and Claim Bonus

Now, log in to your account, and you will be redirected to the cashier page. Choose from one of the deposit options and credit your account with a minimum of $50 to be eligible for its welcome bonus. However, to claim BetOnline’s welcome bonus of $250 in free bets, you must also enter the promo code “FREE 250” before completing the deposit.

California Sports Betting Apps

Mobile gambling, a booming trend in the gambling industry, is expected to reach new heights, with the industry’s market volume projected to hit $510.19 billion by 2029. Sportsbooks are in fierce competition for their market share, with numerous platforms embracing a mobile-first approach. Some even create downloadable apps to give players a smoother phone experience.

However, having a standalone app doesn’t guarantee a great mobile experience. With the exception of CoinCasino, most of our recommended CA sportsbooks don’t provide mobile betting apps, but with how easily navigable they are on mobile, you don’t get the sense that you are missing out on anything. These California sports betting sites have fast and responsive loading pages, clutter-free home pages, and can provide bet updates when added as a shortcut on your home screen.

Is Any Form of Online Gambling Legal in California?

Online gambling in California is not grounded. The state is not anti-gambling. Its gambling stakeholders have been able to align their interests on all gambling fronts, except for sports betting. Therefore, there are other legal forms of gambling in the state. They include:

• Cardrooms
• Casino
• Charitable gaming, which includes poker, raffles, and bingo games
• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
• Horse racing betting and parimutuel wagering
• Lottery
• Social casinos

Retail California Sports Betting Locations

California sports betting, whether retail or online, is still unregulated as of April, 2025, so there are no retail sports betting locations in the state.

However, retail casino gambling is thriving, primarily through tribal casinos, which dominate California’s gambling industry due to exclusive rights granted under the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

These casinos, card rooms, racetracks for horse betting, and the state lottery form the California gambling framework. There are over 60 tribal casinos and 80 card rooms in the state.

California Sports Betting – Conclusion

Sports betting, in any form, is not legal in California. This is surprising considering California is home to storied teams like the 49ers, Rams, Dodgers, Giants, Lakers, Warriors, LA Kings, and LA Galaxy. Californians who insist on placing sports bets must make a 6-7-hour drive to Las Vegas or an 8-9 hour trip to Oregon to place their wagers.

An easier alternative is wagering on offshore California betting apps like BetOnline. It’s a betting site with varied options on traditional American leagues plus niche markets like esports, politics, and entertainment. It also has many seasonal promotions and tournaments on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc.

CA Sports Betting – Frequently Asked Questions

Responsible Gambling in California

Are you struggling with a gambling addiction? Our ranked California sports betting apps have self-exclusion tools like deposit and session limits that can help you regain control over your gambling habits. We recommend the following free resources for support and assistance if deposits and session limits don’t help much.

• Gam-Anon
• Gamblers Anonymous
• GamTalk
• National Council on Problem Gambling