California Sports Betting: No Legal California Bookies
Welcome to this page dedicated to California sports betting. Unfortunately, there are no legal bookmakers in California. We’ll discuss the current laws regarding gambling, as well as the potential for sports betting to become legal. We will also talk about the history of gambling in the state and the currently legal forms of gambling.
- This Site Contains:
- Overview of California Gambling Laws
- History of Gambling in California
- Legislative Proposals Regarding Sports Betting
California, similar to “newer” states in the union, banned certain types of gambling once it enacted its penal code in 1872. The laws regarding gambling are not very strict in comparison to other states, but California is no gambler haven either.
It all gets down to the public perception of gambling and action (or inaction) on part of Californian legislators. Considering that gambling is not particularly frowned upon, we believe that Californians can easily vote it in as long as such a question appears on the ballot. We will tell you more about efforts to legalize online sports betting California in later sections.
The Legal Status of Online Sports Betting California
Currently, you cannot wager on sporting events like baseball or football games in California. We don’t know when that is going to change, but we hope it happens soon. Although you can’t bet on sporting events, you can still bet on horse races in California, whether in-person or online.
Legal Options for California Residents
It might take some time before online sports betting California becomes a reality, but residents have many other legal gambling options to choose from. For instance, Californians can buy lottery tickets, bet on horse races, engage in charitable gaming, play Daily Fantasy Sports, and even visit cardrooms and tribal casinos.
Land Based Casinos & Sportsbooks in California
California has a ban on commercial casinos, but it has many tribal casinos. Ever since the Indian Regulatory Act of 1988 was enacted, more than 70 tribal casinos have been opened. You have to be over the age of 18 to visit a tribal casino without an alcohol license, and 21 to visit a casino serving alcohol.
The tribal casinos offer all sorts of casino games, so you won’t miss out on anything. You can also visit a sportsbook in California. There are off-track betting establishments where you can watch and bet on horse races in and outside California.
Daily Fantasy Sports in California
Daily Fantasy Sports allow players to create a fantasy team made of real athletes. Players use statistics to make their athlete selections and based on that, they can win money. This makes DFS a game of skill, rather than chance like roulette.
Daily Fantasy Sports are not regulated in California. There was a bill in 2015 that aimed to legalize them, but it never became law. Still, despite the unregulated status of DFS, California residents can still legally play. The legal situation resembles that of many other states that are yet to regulate DFS.
Horse Racing in California
Horse racing betting is legal in California. Bettors can wager at one of the many gorgeous racetracks or visit an off-track betting venue instead. They can also bet online or by using mobile apps. Before doing that though, make sure that the operator was specifically licensed by the state.
Cardrooms in California
Cardrooms are legal in California, and they are regulated by the California Gambling Control Commission. They are legal because they are considered a game of skill. There are currently 88 licensed cardrooms offering games such as poker and blackjack. You can also enroll in tournaments or play these card games at charitable gaming venues.
| Betting Type | Legal | Regulatory Body |
|---|---|---|
| 🏈 Online Sports Betting | No | None |
| 🎰 Online Casinos | No | None |
| ⚾ Daily Fantasy Sports | Yes | None |
| 🏢 Land-Based Casinos | Yes | The California Gambling Control Commission |
| 🏨 Land-Based Sportsbooks | Yes | The California Horse Racing Board |
| 🃏 Poker Rooms | Yes | The California Gambling Control Commission |
| 🏇 Racetrack Betting | Yes | The California Horse Racing Board |
| 🎫 State-Sponsored Lottery | Yes | The California State Lottery Commissione |
Offshore Bookies in California
While widespread, offshore bookmakers are illegal. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) banned offshore websites from accepting American players and such websites have been off-limits since then. Offshore bookies that accept Americans are potentially unsafe, so don’t visit them. It’s not worth the headache.
Sportsbook in California: Pending Sports Betting Legislation in CA
In order to bring legal sports betting California must pass a bill with a supermajority meaning that two-thirds of the state legislators must vote in support of the measure. This means that there must be a wide consensus to legalize California sports betting. There is already one sports betting measure that will appear on the 2022 ballot.
There have been a few attempts to legalize sports betting in California since 2018, but they have unfortunately all failed. However, the situation in the state differed from that in other states. We will tell you more about its unique twists and turns in the following section.
Prior Legalization Attempts
Even before the Supreme Court green-lit the legalization of sports betting in 2018, California has been trying to amend its constitution to allow it once the federal courts approve. However, it’s proving to be a really difficult job in the Golden State.
The main obstacle towards introducing legal sports betting California are indigenous tribes. They have successfully blocked many legalization efforts, the last one being in June 2020. “Legalization of sports betting should not become a backdoor way to infringe upon exclusivity”, said Steve Stallings, Chairman of California Nations Indian Gaming Association. The tribes want to retain their monopoly on gambling in California.
Current Legislation
The measure we mentioned earlier will grant Native American tribes exclusive rights to conduct sports betting operations in California. The measure required over 900,000 signatures to appear on the next ballot, which is gathered, so Californians will get to vote on it in 2022.
The text reveals that sports betting is to only be conducted on tribal lands. Bettors must be at the location to bet, so there are no plans to legalize online sports betting California. Other details include the legal age to wager on sports, set at 21, and the proposed gambling tax of 10%. The measure specifically excludes betting on college sports.
- Increased tax revenue
- More jobs in California
- Safer betting environment
- Potential regulatory issues
- Potential for increases in gambling addiction
- Won’t eliminate scam betting sites
The Outlook for Approving the Measure
California has shown its readiness to introduce sports betting. We believe the measure has a good chance to be approved by voters. However, the online sports betting fans might protest the measure since it only allows in-person sports wagering and the Indian tribes are generally opposed to online gambling.
What Legal Online Sports Betting Would Look Like in California
If legal online sports betting California becomes a reality one day, it would likely be overseen by the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC). CGCC currently oversees land-based tribal casinos and cardrooms. The regulatory body also uses the help of the Bureau of Gambling Control. Together they regulate all forms of legal gambling.
The state desperately needs additional tax revenue because of the financial losses it suffered due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A legal sports betting industry would do just that. The measure, proposed by the Indian tribes, would set a gambling tax of 10% if it’s voted in.
The federal state would also get a share. Currently, there is a 24% federal flat tax that must be paid by players who make over a certain amount of money, depending on the game they play. These players have to file the W2-G form and send it to the IRS.
Plans for Future Legalization of Online Betting Sites in California
There are currently no plans to legalize online sports betting in California. There have been a few in the past and we expect for new ones to pop up, but we can’t guarantee they would be successful due to the strong opposition to them by Indian tribes. They want sports betting to be exclusively in-person.
Online vs. In-Person Betting
Let’s discuss the differences between online and in-person gambling. With land-based casinos you usually have table games with live dealers and people you can play and interact with. California boasts of thousands of card tables in casinos and card rooms, so our Californian readers are perhaps familiar with the live gaming experience.
However, many online casinos in states with a legal industry also have live dealer games nowadays. They also have many more gambling options since they are not contrived by space. If you can’t find a game you like at an online operator, you can just visit another one. The accessibility and mobility of online gambling are its biggest advantages.
Now let’s focus on the differences between online and in-person betting. If you bet at a sportsbook in California, that currently only allows horse racing wagers, you can be in the company of your friends while watching the games and maybe enjoying a nice meal.
Betting online is not a social activity, which might be a bummer to some, but just like online casino gambling, it has its advantages. For instance, you can browse different betting sites to find the best odds, as well as the most lucrative promotions. If you tried to do that with brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, you’d have to travel a lot.
Still, in the end, it’s up to the bettor to decide which betting option is the best for them. Some will always treat sports betting as a social activity that they look forward to. Others will treat it as a fun thing they can do on the go.
But let’s be honest, it’s likely for people to like and do both. One day you could be hanging out with your friends at a sportsbook and another you could be browsing the best sports betting sites California. You don’t have to choose or stick to your preferred method.
In-person sports betting might soon be legalized in California, but not online betting. That’s why we wanted to give you some advantages of betting online, so you can see what the state can miss out on. We already mentioned the biggest advantages – accessibility and mobility.
You can bet at all times, anywhere, as long as you have an Internet connection. You can also choose the operator with the best offers out there by browsing for a few minutes rather than having to physically travel to different sportsbooks. You can also amend your bet momentaneous rather than having to wait in line with other bettors.
Legal sports betting California should definitely include online betting. Bettors should be the ones choosing between in-person and online betting, not the state or certain political lobbies. It’s a matter of fairness, but it’s much easier said than done.
We all know that Black market sites would still be used by Californian players if they have no legal options, so then why not legalize online gambling and online sports betting? It’s the reasonable and right thing to do. It’d also be very profitable for the state, considering it has the largest population in the union.
All in all, we believe that gambling and sports betting should be readily available to Californian players, and that includes online gambling and sports betting. Only then will the players be safe from online scam websites, that they now visit despite their illegality.
Let the players decide for themselves. We believe that there would be fans of in-person betting who simply love the atmosphere that a sportsbook provides. There would be surely the strictly online bettors who like the comfort of betting on their computer/phone. It’s all down to personal preferences, as long as bettors are given the option.
The History of Online Sports Gambling in California
California officially banned gambling with the enactment of the California Penal Code in 1872. It has been gradually legalizing different types of gambling since then, starting with horse racing betting. It now has many forms of legal gambling, which are regulated by the California Gambling Control Commission and the Bureau of Gambling Control.
Let us tell you more about the historic Supreme Court case that we included on the list above. First some background. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) made sports betting illegal on a federal level. There have been numerous attempts to overrule it.
The Supreme Court did just that in 2018 in the Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association case. The Justices found PASPA to be unconstitutional since it gave the federal governments excessive legislative powers. This decision allowed for individual states to legalize sports betting, which is why so many sports betting bill have popped up around the country.
Potential Licensing Requirements
Licensing bodies ensure that all state laws regarding gambling are being abided to. There are two gambling regulators in California – the California Gambling Control Commission and the Bureau of Gambling Control. We believe that they’d be responsible for regulating California sports betting once it is legalized.
Firstly, these two regulators investigate gambling operators and then, if the providers are legible, they are being issued a license. The regulatory bodies ensure the compliance and integrity of gambling operations in California. They also review to rules of various games and check the gambling equipment.
However, since online gambling has not been legalized yet, these state authorities cannot regulate the betting sites that Californians use daily. It’s simply past their executive powers. This leaves Californian bettors at a very awkward position. They can never know whether an online bookie is safe to use.
Still, that doesn’t stop them from using unregulated betting sites. However, we advise our Californian readers against doing that as such websites can be potential scams. Furthermore, if they use offshore websites, located outside the US, they would be committing a crime under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).
Black Market Bookmakers Operating in California
We all want for California sports betting to be legalized, but until then, we advise against the use of Black market bookmakers. While you can’t be punished by the state of California for using one, since online gambling is not illegal but unregulated, you can be punished by the federal authorities if you use an offshore betting website.
The UIGEA made the use of offshore betting sites a crime in 2006. Most reputable offshore operators have since banned American players, so the ones that still allow them are most likely not safe and perhaps don’t hold any licenses.
Thus, you should treat every unregulated betting site as a potential scam. Your personal information is not safe at an illegal website. Data breach is a serious issue, which can lead to many negative consequences, the worst of which is identity theft. Hackers might also steal your credit cards and drain them.
Even if that doesn’t happen, you have no way of knowing that the games offered by an illegal website are not rigged. You can also not know whether your winnings would be paid. Finally, there’s no legal recourse for you shall any dispute arise. Overall, don’t visit illegal online betting sites in California.
- ⛔️ 1XBet
- ⛔️ Bovada
- ⛔️ BetOnline
- ⛔️ BetDSI
- ⛔️ SportsBetting.ag
- ⛔️ CarbonGaming.ag
- ⛔️ MyBookie
- ⛔️ BetUS
- ⛔️ Xbet
- ⛔️ 22bet
- ⛔️ 5Dimes
Conclusion – California Betting Sites are Illegal
On this page, we discussed the legal nuances regarding California sports betting. This included the history of gambling in the state, the past and current laws regarding gambling, as well as the future outlook for legalization of California sports betting. To reiterate, betting sites in California are illegal and should be avoided.
While we hope that online sports betting California can be legalized in the next few years, we can’t yet tell if it would happen. There is a strong push against its legalization with the reason being given is that it would cost potential brick-and-mortar sportsbooks many of their clients.
If anything changes and new legislation is introduced, we would immediately update this page, so make sure you check it regularly. In the meantime, enjoy the California sunshine, as well as the legal forms of gambling that the state provides like the lottery, casino and charitable gambling, cardrooms, and Daily Fantasy Sports.
FAQs
Thank you for reading this overview of California sports betting. We hope you found this review informative and exhaustive. Our readers tend to have more specific questions, so we will attempt to answer them below. If you have any other inquiries regarding the legal situation in California, don’t hesitate to contact us.