California Sports Betting Updates January 2023

California sports betting isn’t launching any time soon.

With California voters rejecting two initiatives in the 2022 election that would have legalized sportsbooks in the state in some capacity, interest groups now turn to the 2024 election for another attempt at legalization.

Translation: Those eager for legal sports betting apps in California need to be patient.

However, whether sports betting comes to California isn’t a question of it. It’s a question of when. There’e simply too much money to be made in a legal California sports betting market.

California is the largest state in the US by far, with just under 40 million people. It boasts the fifth-largest economy in the world and 19 professional sports teams. A fully mature market in California could generate north of $3 billion in revenue, per recent estimates.

While Californians wait for legalization, they do still have some options. They can play DFS with any number of DFS apps, including DraftKings and FanDuel. They can play Fliff, a promotional sweepstakes social sportsbook that allows players to redeem digital currency for real cash prizes.

And they should also get familiar with what potential California sportsbook promos may come to their state.

For now, here’s a look at the future of sports betting in California.

Is Sports Betting Legal in California?

No, sports betting in California is not legal.

The only way to make it legal is it voters pass a measure legalizing it in an election, so interest groups are now looking ahead to the 2024 ballot for their second crack at legalization.

Until then, neighboring states Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona all offer legal sports betting, both retail and online. For much of California, those states are only a short drive away. Some sportsbooks literally sit minutes from the border.

How Can I Bet on Sports in California?

For those who want to stay in California, there is a legal, creative way to bet on sports. Fliff is a promotional sweepstakes sports betting app that has all the same feel of a traditional real-money sportsbook.

We’ll discuss Fliff later, but in a nutshell, you bet with fake digital money that can later be redeemed for real money.

California is also still a hot spot for DFS. You can play daily fantasy sports at any number of quality DFS apps, including DraftKings DFS and FanDuel DFS.

There’s horse betting in California, too. You can do that in-person, off-track, or via any number of horse race betting apps. TVG Horse Racing, which recently rebranded as FanDuel TV, is your best bet.

When Will Sports Betting Be Legal in California?

Californians will have to wait until 2024 to vote for the next round of sports betting ballot initiatives. Then, if one is passed, things wouldn’t get into gear until 2025.

So, what’s next for California sports betting? 

There are three most likely options for the 2024 ballot.

• Sportsbooks and tribes again collect signatures for two separate initiatives.
• Sportsbooks and tribes compromise and collect signatures for one initiative.
• The California Legislature, with assistance from lobbyists, writes and passes one ballot initiative.

Two Separate Props Again in 2024

Because this route failed so miserably in 2022, it seems unlikely sportsbooks and tribes will go after each other again in 2024. But sometimes logic doesn’t prevail, especially in politics.

In this case, both interest groups would need to gather a certain required amount of verified signatures in order to appear on that ballot. That amount is equal to 8% of the votes cast for the governor in the most recent election. For the 2022 ballot, that number was 997,139.

Interest groups are given 180 days to collect the signatures, and they must be verified at least 131 days before the election to appear on the ballot.

Three tribes with large Indian casinos in California — the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Wilton Rancheria, and Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians — tried to get an in-person and online tribal sports betting prop on the 2022 ballot, but they failed to gather enough signatures. Could they try again with this initiative in 2024?

Sportsbooks and Tribes Compromise for One Prop in 2024

The consensus among industry experts is that sportsbooks and tribes can’t afford to try opposing each other again in 2024, because it so clearly didn’t work.

If the two interest groups can reach a compromise on one ballot measure, they’ll be able to combine their campaign energy. Collecting the minimum required number of signatures would likely be easy in this case.

If a random sample of the signatures indicates 110% of the required number, the measure automatically goes on the ballot. If it’s anywhere above 95% but below 110%, a full check is required. If it’s below 95%, the initiative will not appear on the ballot.

California Legislature Writes Sports Betting Initiative

If interest groups and lobbyists surrounding sportsbooks and California tribes don’t block it, the California Legislature can write what’s called a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.

Essentially, all that means is that lawmakers write the ballot proposal, and it needs to get 2/3 approval by the Assembly and Senate in order to appear on the next election ballot.

What Online Sports Betting Site Can I Use in California?

We strongly advise against using unregulated offshore sites such as Bovada and BetUS. You put your money and personal information at risk any time you use one of those sites.

Instead, for Californians eager to bet on sports right now, we suggest Fliff.

Although it’s not a real-money sports betting site, Fliff is a promotional sweepstakes site — just like the legal online casinos in California. That means you bet with two forms of fake digital currency, and you can redeem one of those types of fake digital currency for real cash prizes. Below you’ll find more info.

Best Sports Betting Apps California

We obviously don’t know which sites would come to California.

However, we can make confident educated guesses about which sports betting apps and sites would flock to California given the opportunity. For instance, DraftKings and FanDuel already operate DFS apps in California. They would be two logical candidates for a license.

Here is the full list of potential California sportsbooks:

Other Potential California Sportsbooks

Bally Bet Sportsbook California

Another young, smaller sportsbook, Bally Bet had its biggest launch in New York on July 7, 2022. It’s now active in six states — Colorado, Iowa, Arizona, Indiana, and Virginia are the others — and is expected to launch in Massachusetts in March 2023. Bally Bet was one of the online sportsbooks to publicly back Prop 27 in California. It donated $12.5 million to the failed Prop 27 campaign.

BetFanatics Sportsbook California

Fanatics was the only company signed onto Prop 27 that wasn’t a sportsbook. However, it donated $25 million to the Prop 27 campaign in hopes to legalize online sports betting in California. Its sportsbook brand, BetFanatics, has acquired licenses in Ohio and Maryland, and it will launch in Massachusetts in March 2023.

Barstool Sportsbook California

PENN Gaming, which partners with Barstool Sportsbook, helped fund Prop 27. It then makes sense that Barstool Sportsbook would try to establish itself in California. Barstool Sportsbook is currently active in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Virginia, New Jersey, Tennessee, Arizona, West Virginia, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, and Louisiana. It is also expected to launch in Massachusetts in March 2023.

WynnBET Sportsbook California

WynnBET also helped fund Prop 27 and will certainly try to get a license in California if voters approve sports betting in the 2024 election. WynnBET is currently live in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia. It will launch a retail sportsbook in Massachusetts Jan. 31, 2023, and it will launch an online Massachusetts sportsbook in March 2023.

Unibet Sportsbook California

Unibet was nowhere to be seen in the Prop 26 vs. Prop 27 debate. That’s probably because it already has a deal in place with the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation to offer their retail and online sports betting in California if and when sports betting is ever legalized. Unibet is in an enviable position to potentially launch quickly in California, whenever legalization happens.

Betway Sportsbook California

Betway is another lesser-known sportsbook to watch in California. Why? Because it has locked in partnerships with the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Kings, and Golden State Warriors. Those relationships could be crucial if Betway needs to partner with a California tribe to offer either a retail or online sportsbook. Again, why? Because those tribes may also have partnerships with those teams via their casinos. Betway is currently legal in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and it’s expected to launch in Massachusetts in March 2023.

Betr Sportsbook California

The Jake Paul-founded micro-betting app Betr is trying to match the rapid ascension of its founder. It is live in Ohio right now, and it’s expected to launch in Massachusetts in March 2023. Paul is trying to tie his micro-betting app to the glitz and glam of sports, and there’s no more glitz and glam than in California — where he lives.

Bet365 Sportsbook California

Bet365 continues its expansion into the US. It is currently legal in New Jersey, Colorado, and Ohio. By the time California sports betting launches in 2025, at the earliest, bet365 could be big enough in the US to attempt a launch in the country’s most populous state.

How We Rate California Sports Betting Apps

We pride ourselves on providing unbiased, detailed, and accurate reviews to help you pick your favorite sportsbook apps whenever California sports betting launches in the future. Although these apps, such as DraftKings California, aren’t live in California, their platforms will be the same whenever they can launch in California.

So, to help you understand how we rate sports betting apps, here’s a breakdown.

Speed

A sportsbook could have market-leading odds, a deep menu of sports and leagues to bet on, and a wide range of bets you can make. But if the platform isn’t fast and efficient, without bugs or glitches bugging things down, none of that matters.

A good sportsbook is a fast sportsbook — one that registers your bets immediately, updates odds consistently for live betting, and pays you quickly.

Bonuses and Promotions

We want a sportsbook to court us, to convince us to pick them over all the others. After all, we’re paying them our hard-earned money, right? That’s why welcome bonuses really do matter when it comes to rating a sports betting app. Same with ongoing promotions.

If two sportsbooks offer pretty much the same odds, betting menu, and deposit options, you’re going to pick $1,000 risk-free bet over the $500 risk-free bet.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

Options are always a good thing, especially when it comes to depositing and withdrawing money with a sportsbook. If the sportsbook doesn’t offer direct online banking for both deposits and cashouts, don’t even consider it.

But sometimes online banking isn’t always the best option. Some people swear by PayPal or e-wallets like Skrill. It can’t possibly hurt a sportsbook to offer more deposit and withdrawal options. It can only help attract a wider range of bettors.

App Quality

Let’s be honest: Some of you might place your bets on a computer, but chances are you’ll use the sports betting app at least 80% of the time. So, even if a sportsbook has the best of the best of everything, if its app is bad, you’re probably not going to use it.

We look for apps that don’t have glitches or bugs, that are easy to navigate, that simply look nice, and that present information in a clean, easy-to-read fashion.

Live Betting

Live betting is huge nowadays. It’s a fast-paced, exciting way to bet on sports. But it can also be supremely frustrating if a sportsbook lags in any way. This ties in with a sportsbook’s speed. Does it perform well enough to give bettors a high-quality live-betting experience? Or is it more infuriating than fun?

Unique Features

What else can a sportsbook do to set itself apart? PointsBet offers PointsBetting, a one-of-a-kind way to bet on sports. Caesars Sportsbook has an excellent menu of international sports. WynnBET has great live stats. BetMGM California will offer its industry-leading MGM Rewards program.

How to Use Sportsbook Apps in California

For now, the only regulated and legal sports betting app you can use in California is Fliff, which uses the promotional sweepstakes model to be 100% legal.

When it comes to regulated real-money sportsbooks, there is no way to legally use them in California.

You can use a VPN to hide your IP address and sign up for a US sportsbook from California. However, when it comes time to verifying your identity and address in order to place bets and withdraw money, security will quickly sniff you out and delete your sports betting account.

However, when sports betting does inevitably launch in California, here’s how you’ll be able to use sports betting apps.

How to Download

Most if not all California sportsbooks will give users the option to download their app on iOS or Android devices directly from their sportsbook website.

However, most bettors simply head to the App Store or Google Play Store to download the app. Be sure you’re downloading the company’s sportsbook app. Some, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, also have DFS apps.

Most companies that also operate online casinos combine their sportsbook and casino apps into one. But, if they don’t, again, be sure you see the word “sportsbook” in whatever app you’re downloading.

How to Deposit Money

California sports betting apps will make it easy and pain-free to deposit money.

Simply connect your payment method of choice to the sportsbook — common methods include online banking, credit or debit card, e-check, and PayPal — and place funds into your account. Some sportsbooks, such as DraftKings, also allow you to fund your account with DraftKings gift cards.

How to Place a Bet

Once you have deposited money into your account, you’re ready to place a bet.

Peruse the sportsbook’s options of sports and leagues, select the game or contest you want to bet on, choose your type of bet (moneyline, spread, Over/Under, prop, future, parlay, etc.), and place your bet. Once you’ve done this, you’ll see your wager selection listed on your betslip, which should be easily accessible on the sportsbook app.

How to Cash Out

In order to withdraw winnings from your account, you’ll need to verify your identity.

Some online sportsbooks do this automatically during your registration. They will make sure all the information you provide matches up with public records. This process is usually quite fast and, again, happens before you even get started betting.

However, some online sportsbooks require further manual verification before you can cash out. Common documents needed for verification include a government-issued ID and proof of address (such as a utility bill).

Once you’ve verified your identity, you’re ready to withdraw money from your account. Common withdrawal methods include online banking, PayPal, or other e-wallets. But there are additional options, too.

We recommend online banking, as it’s usually the fastest and easiest method to get your sports betting winnings within a few business days.

The Two Failed California Sports Betting Initiatives

On Nov. 8, Californians rejected Prop 26 and Prop 27, delaying legalized sports betting in California until 2025 at the earliest. Here’s a look at the two failed ballot measures.

Prop 26: Tribal In-Person Sports Betting

In California, 58 tribes publicly endorsed Prop 26. Notable other support comes from the NAACP and various local political and business organizations.

Beyond the sportsbooks, Prop 26’s main opposition came from California card rooms and related entities.

Prop 27: Private Company Online Sports Betting

FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, PENN Gaming, Fanatics, Bally Bet, and WynnBET exclusively funded the Yes on 27 campaign. Prop 27 also had support from MLB, certain homelessness organizations, and top lawmakers from cities hit especially hard by homelessness.

Three California tribes also endorsed Prop 27.

Beyond most California tribes, Prop 27’s main opposition came from both the California Democratic and Republican parties, as well as state education organizations such as the California Teachers Association.

Projected Sports Betting California Market Size

As the most populous state, California could become one of the largest sports betting markets in the US. For example, the state of Nevada generates an estimated $9 billion in revenue annually. California Indian casinos already generate about an equal amount of revenue annually without having online or in-person sports betting.

Nevada generates about $450 million in revenue via sports betting. California, with its larger size and population, could potentially dwarf that amount if sports betting is legalized.

The Los Angeles Times reported that one 2019 study estimated illegal sports bets placed in California were worth $15.7 billion. Logic says a fully legal market would lead to a much higher California sports betting handle.

An August 2022 report published by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, an independent research and consulting firm, projected sports betting revenue in California to reach $3.1 billion if both Prop 26 and Prop 27 pass. Even if only Prop 27 passes, the firm predicted annual would be $2.8 billion — a reflection of just how popular online sports betting is compared to retail sports betting across the US.

If the retail-only option is passed, experts estimate it would generate a $356 million in revenue in five years.

It’s a staggering amount of money that sportsbooks want to command large slices of. This projected market size is the reason sportsbooks have banded together to try to legalize online sports betting.

Legal Sports Betting in Bordering States

Although you can’t legally bet on sports online or in-person in California, you can in its three neighboring states.

Arizona

As of January 2023, there were 17 online sportsbooks operating in Arizona:

• DraftKings Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• BetMGM
• BetRivers
• Betfred
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• Unibet
• WynnBET Sportsbook
• Barstool Sportsbook 
• Sahara Bets
• Desert Diamond Sports
• Golden Nugget
• Bally Bet
• Betway
• SuperBook Sports
• Hard Rock
• TwinSpires

If Californians are looking for retail sportsbooks near the California-Arizona border, there is one option:

• Paradise Casino in Yuma, just 9 miles from the California-Arizona border, has a retail Unibet Sportsbook.

Nevada

As of January 2023, there were 13 online sportsbooks operating in Nevada:

• Atlantis
• BetMGM
• B-Connected Sports
• Circa Sports
• Caesars Sportsbook
• Golden Nugget NV
• Rampart Sports (Nevada Sports)
• South Point (Nevada Sports)
• STN Sports
• TI Sports
• Westgate Superbook
• William Hill
• WynnBET

Las Vegas is just about 50 miles from the California border, and Lake Tahoe and Reno are directly next to it. So many Californians won’t have to drive far to use the above-mentioned online sportsbooks. For in-person sports gambling:

• There are 17 retail sportsbooks in and around Reno.
• There are six retail sportsbooks around Lake Tahoe.
• There are eight retail sportsbooks in and around Carson City.
• There are 87 retail sportsbooks in Las Vegas.
• There are 13 retail sportsbooks in cities on the California-Nevada border, including three in Primm.

Oregon

As of January 2023, there was only one online sportsbook operating in Oregon: DraftKings. There are also retail sportsbooks at four Indian casinos, but the closest one is 136 miles above the California-Oregon border.

History of Sports Betting in California

Nevada legalized sports betting in 1949.

But, outside that state, California and the rest of the US had a bubbling ecosystem of illegal sports gambling, mainly run by organized crime.

Various pieces of legislation — the Federal Wire Act (1961), Travel Act of 1961, Interstate Transportation of Paraphernalia Act of 1961, Sports Bribery Act of 1964 — tried to curtain illegal sports gambling. But these were all bandaid efforts to get anything done.

Then, in 1992, the US Congress banned any state from legalizing sports betting with the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. In 2006, Congress went after online sports betting with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

However, on May 14, 2018, Congress repealed PASPA.

Since then, a whole lot has happened:

• May 2018: Assemblyman Adam Gray reintroduced a bill he’d first introduced in 2017 that would allow sports gambling if it was approved by voters in the election. It didn’t make it to the ballot.
• June 2018: A proposal known as the Gaming Fairness and Accountability Act was filed to the state’s Attorney General. The act was mainly focused on legalizing sports betting. But that didn’t work either.
• January 2020: A group of 18 California tribes began the process of collecting signatures to get a legal sports betting measure on the 2020 ballot. However, COVID-19 threw a wrench in those plans.
• May 2021: After being granted two extensions on their signature-gathering deadlines due to the pandemic, the tribes successfully got approval to be on the November 2022 ballot.
• August 2021: FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM began to spearhead effort to get online sports betting initiative on the November 2022 ballot.
• May 2022: The private company-led initiative got enough signatures to appear on the November 2022 ballot.
• November 2022: More than $450 million was raised in support and opposition of Prop 26 and Prop 27, making it by far the most expensive ballot battle in California history. Neither measure is expected to pass in the election. Meanwhile, Massachusetts became the latest state to legalize sports betting in August.
• Nov. 8, 2022: California voters reject Prop 26 and Prop 27 in major landslide losses.
• Dec. 27, 2022: Leaders of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, which owns the largest casino on the West Coast (Yaamava’ Resort & Casino), tell California Casinos that the only way they see US sportsbooks entering the California market is as tech providers for tribes — not as their own entities.

California NFL Betting Odds and Updates

San Francisco 49ers Odds and Updates

Super Bowl odds for the 49ers are the longest among all four teams remaining after San Francisco’s 19-12 win over the Cowboys in the Divisional Round. The Eagles are favored, followed by the Bengals, Chiefs, then 49ers. On paper, San Francisco is weakest at QB of the four remaining teams.

But Brock Purdy has shown he knows how to win.

Up next: San Francisco travels to play the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

California College Football Betting Odds and Updates

USC Football Futures Odds

Depending on which sportsbook you use, USC football odds for the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship are anywhere from third-best to fifth-best in the country.

With reigning Heisman Trophy winner QB Caleb Williams back, as well as a loaded transfer class and the No. 11 overall 2023 recruiting class, the Trojans have high expectations in 2023-24.

UCLA Football Futures Odds

Most major US sportsbooks peg UCLA football odds for the 2024 CFP title at +10000 immediately following the 2023 title game. The Bruins will miss QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and RB Zach Charbonnet dearly, but they’ll still likely challenge for a spot in the Pac-12 title game.

The +10000 line is just outside the top 20, so UCLA is still expected to be a top-25-caliber team.

California NBA Betting Odds and Updates

Los Angeles Lakers Odds and Updates

Odds for the Lakers are currently the eighth-best in the Western Conference, but they’re rising in those rankings thanks in part to a recent -1000 odds trim from BetMGM. LA has won three of its past four, including a 122-121 win against Memphis on Friday and a 121-112 win Sunday in Portland in which it trailed 71-46 at halftime.

Up next: The Lakers (22-25) host the Clippers on Tuesday.

Los Angeles Clippers Odds and Updates

The Clippers have gone 4-3 in their past seven games following their ugly six-game losing streak. Most recently, LAC logged back-to-back wins in San Antonio and Dallas on Friday and Sunday to improve to 25-24. Kawhi Leonard led the way in both games with 30 and 36 points, respectively.

Up next for the Clippers: at the Lakers on Tuesday.

Golden State Warriors Odds and Updates

Odds for the Warriors have remained mostly the same in recent days. Steph Curry is back in the lineup, so hope is pretty high in Golden State territory, even though the team has split its past six games. It still boasts the second-best NBA Finals odds in the Western Conference, behind only Denver.

Up next for the Warriors (23-24): at home against Memphis on Wednesday.

Sacramento Kings Odds and Updates

Odds for the Kings shortened across the board over the past week as they continue to prove their success is not a fluke. They’ve won seven of their past eight games, and BetMGM shaved their odds -2500 in recent days. Taking Sacramento (27-19) right now at +10000 on BetMGM wouldn’t be the first idea in the world. Especially because a winning $10 futures bet would pay out $1,010.

The Kings have sole possession of third place in the Western Conference right now, yet their NBA Finals odds are just the ninth-shortest in the Western Conference.

Up next: at home against Toronto on Wednesday.

California NHL Betting Odds and Updates

Los Angeles Kings Odds and Updates

The Kings have lost three of their past four to fall to 26-17-6. While still a strong playoff contender, LA has slipped a bit in the standings lately. Its 58 points are good for fifth place in the Western Conference behind Seattle (59), Vegas (60), Winnipeg (63), and Dallas (64).

Still, taking the Kings right now at +3500 on FanDuel or BetMGM wouldn’t be the worst idea.

Up next: at Philadelphia on Tuesday.

San Jose Sharks Odds and Updates

The Sharks have lost five of their past six games to fall to 14-25-9. Their 37 points are good for 13th place in the Western Conference.

Up next for San Jose: at Detroit on Tuesday.

Anaheim Ducks Odds and Updates

The Ducks have lost six of their past seven games and are 13-29-5, good for last place in the Western Conference. Anaheim’s 31 points are tied for the lowest total in the NHL with Columbus, which it beat 5-3 last Thursday. PointsBet no longer lists odds for Anaheim.

Up next: at Arizona on Tuesday.

California College Basketball Betting Odds and Updates

UCLA Basketball Odds and Updates

UCLA basketball odds took a small hit on Saturday when the Bruins lost at then-No. 11 Arizona 58-52. That’s by no means a bad loss, but it did halt UCLA’s win streak at 14 games. The Bruins are now 17-3 overall and 8-1 in Pac-12 play. They fell to No. 8 in the AP Top 25 poll and are currently No. 5 in the all-important NCAA NET rankings.

Up next for UCLA: at USC on Thursday.

USC Basketball Odds and Updates

USC basketball won at Arizona State 77-69 on Saturday to improve to 14-6 overall and 6-3 in Pac-12 play. The Trojans didn’t receive any votes in the most recent AP Top 25 poll and are currently No. 62 in the NCAA NET rankings.

Up next: at home against No. 8 UCLA on Thursday.

San Diego State Basketball Odds and Updates

SDSU basketball beat Air Force 70-60 on the road Saturday. The Aztecs are now 15-4 overall and 6-1 in Mountain West play, which is good for sole possession of first place in the conference. They received 57 votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll (28th-most) and are currently No. 26 in the NCAA NET rankings.

Up next: SDSU hosts Utah State on Wednesday.

California Sports Betting FAQs