California sports betting may be available in the near future as lawmakers have proposed a ballot that would legalize forms of sports wagering in the state. Voters in California will have the chance to change the laws for sports betting in California as soon as 2020.
There have been attempts to offer online betting California in the past, but no laws have currently been passed.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in California
California is home to many professional sports teams. So, offering California sports betting would result in a huge boost in tax revenue. With the repeal of PASPA back in 2018, individual states have the ability to legalize online sports betting, but California is not yet one of the states that provide access to any online betting California options. With the option to expand state-regulated wagering, online and physical sports betting could become legal.
If you are looking to place bets online in the state of California, you will find this is not an illegal activity, but you will not find any operating sites such as bet365, Pointsbet or Unibet in the state itself like it is the case in Pennsylvania or Colorado. You do have the ability to place bets at off-shore betting sites and there are no laws that will prevent any resident from engaging in this form of sports betting.
There is one way in which residents can enjoy the thrills of sports betting in California and that is through daily fantasy sports sites like FanDuel and DraftKings. Remember that you can actually claim Draftkings promo code. This form of betting is not considered online gambling based on California laws, so it is completely legal to place wagers at these types of online sites.
Current Sport Gambling Laws in California
Gambling is a popular pastime in the state of California and you will find a number of land-based venues that provide access to real money casino games. There are also legally operating card rooms scattered throughout the state. However, when it comes to sports betting in California, the laws are a bit different and you may not find it as easy to engage in placing any type of sports wager. At this time, there is no concrete timeline as to when online sports betting California will be offered or even when land-based sportsbooks will begin to operate.
If the state were to introduce sports gambling, a constitutional amendment would be required, just like in New York. Based on the language that was used in the 2000 ballot, all tribal casinos in the state of California have claimed jurisdiction over gambling, including sports wagering, so it will be difficult to override this and allow other sports betting operators to enter the state and offer real money wagering.
For now, things remain unchanged and there are no forms of sports betting legal in California. This may change in the future, but the immediate prospect of any online betting California options is not something that is on the horizon.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports betting is not legal in the state of California as there are no explicit laws that allow any wagering at such sites. Lawmakers were considering the legalization of daily fantasy sports in 2015 and there was a bill that was passed in 2016. However, since that bill passed through the Assembly, the Senate has taken no action.
While there are no laws that pertain to daily fantasy sports, some operators accept residents of California. So, there are options to legally and securely engage in this type of sports betting. The majority of DFS operators consider daily fantasy sports a skill game and not a form of gambling. Despite an actual law that would make daily fantasy sports betting legal in California, you do have the option to visit these sites to earn real money payouts.
The bill that was passed by the Assembly would allow daily fantasy sports operators to enter the state and pay a licensing fee as well as a quarterly tax that would be based on gross income generated. The exact fees and taxes were not stated. The bill also stated there would be a minimum age of 21 for anyone that would be accessing such sites should they enter the online sports betting California market.
What to Expect Once Sports Betting is Legalized in California
When sports betting in California is finally legalized, you will find a number of betting options. Many land-based casinos will operate a sportsbook. Also, you’ll find some of the race tracks will begin to offer traditional sports wagering.
Online sports betting in California will likely provide exceptional bonus offers. These can boost your account and offer bonus bets and other exciting deals. While the timeframe for legal sports betting in California is unknown, expect some amazing opportunities once legal.
Types of Sports and Bets
As soon as the state offers legal sports betting, place wagers on college and professional sports from around the globe. Online betting sites will focus on American sports. That means betting on your favorite teams, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS. Also, find other sports including golf, tennis, MMA, motorsports, and more.
When it comes to the types of bets you can place, there are endless options. Sports betting would be a huge revenue generator. Plus, each sport would support a variety of bets. These can include parlays, proposition bets, straight bets, point spreads, moneylines, teasers, pleasers, futures, and so many more.
Possible Operators
Should sports betting become legal in the near future, there are some great operators that will enter the market. Some partnerships are already being discussed. The United Auburn Indian Community is already making a deal with MGM and GVC, which is an online gambling company. This deal will allow a sportsbook to be operated at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
This is the only deal that is known of at this time. In general, Californian tribes are opposed to the legalization of sports betting.
However, if Indian tribes are able to control the sports betting market in the state, they will welcome the idea. This means that many of the Native American casinos already operating would add a sportsbook. Potentially, they’d even introduce online sports betting.
Sports Betting Apps
With the legalization of online sports betting, you will find that many venues will offer online wagering. Also, sports betting apps are likely as well.
Sports betting apps provide a secure way to engage in wagering. With these apps, place a variety of wagers, redeem bonuses, enjoy special promotions and more. As anywhere, you must be of legal gambling age.