California Sports Betting

The two sports betting bills that appeared on the November 2022 ballot were met with extreme opposition by state residents, which pushes California's sports betting legalization timeline to 2024.

Last July, the CA Democrat party opposed online sports betting while staying neutral on the land-based tribal sports betting initiative. Notably, there are about 10 million Democrats and 5 million Republicans in the Golden State, which is an indication that online sports betting is still a major question mark in potentially the largest betting market in North America.

The first initiative, the California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative, would allow Californians to place bets in-person at tribal casinos only. The other initiative, the Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act, would allow online sports betting operators and tribes to partner, making legal betting apps and websites available statewide.

The state tribe initiative would provide education on the negative impacts of corporate or commercial sports betting, funding for addiction and mental health services, and the Bureau of Gambling Control to combat illegal wagering. The online initiative has pledged to provide 85% of betting tax revenue to assist the homeless, addiction, and mental health services. State tribes would receive the remaining 15% tax revenue.

If the state tribe initiative is approved, CA state residents still won't have many sports betting options to choose from in comparison to their neighboring states Arizona and Nevada. On the other hand, it seems that if the online sports wagering initiative is passed, it will bring further division between Californian voters.

Under the online measure sports betting apps would be available in time for the 2023 NFL season.

Both could become law if they receive a majority of "Yes" votes.

Several California mayors and service groups are backing the online betting measure, as it directs 85% of sports betting tax revenue towards funding homelessness, mental health and addiction programs. Meanwhile, small business advocates and minority trade organizations are backing the tribal betting measure. The tribes are openly campaigning against the online proposal—backed by DraftKings, BetMGM and FanDuel—out of fear of letting out-of-state companies infringe on their gambling foothold in the state.

Each group has published several polls refuting the other's notion of public support for online sports betting.

California's Legalization Timeline

The Golden State has yet to legalize sports betting. Here's a recent timeline that maps out their road to legalization:

November 2022

• Prop 26 and 27 were not approved on the Nov. 2022 ballot. Unfortunately, the Golden State has a long way to go before in-person and online sports betting is legalized. It is expected that sports betting will be legalized in 2024. [Nov. 10]

July 2022

• Californian Democrats openly voted on Prop 27 in opposition to online sports betting while staying neutral on the in-person betting initiative led by state tribes. The Democrats' support and commitment to state tribes has been evidently shown as we rapidly approach the Nov. 2022 ballot. [Action Network, July 11]

June 2022

• Sec. of State Weber and election officials officially verify that both sports betting initiatives qualify for the Nov. 2022 ballot. This news makes it official; Californians will choose either or both sports betting initiatives that are on track to be legalized in late 2022 or early 2023. [Action Network, June 28]

May 2022

• Over 40 native tribes still oppose the online sports betting initiative in California. The Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming released a list of groups opposed to the online sports betting initiative. [Our Coalition, May 12]
• A list of 21 service organizations in support of the online sports betting initiative was released by Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support.  [May 11]
• Over 1.6 million Californians have signed the initiative to legalize online sports betting, which will now put it on the upcoming ballot in November for voters to decide on. [Action Network, May 3]

April 2022

• A poll was released claiming the majority of California voters oppose online sports betting. The Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming is the organization who organized and recorded this poll to gain further insight on sports betting legalization. [Action Network, April 21]

February 2022

• A public poll claims that 45% of CA voters favor sports betting, with 33% against it and 22% undecided. UC Berkeley was the public institution behind this sports betting poll.  [UC Berkeley, February 25]

September 2021

• A majority of CA voters support online sports betting, according to a poll released by the Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support. [September 16]

August 2021

• A third initiative is filed. This one is called “California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental health Support Act. This initiative has support from DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel, as well as other top names in the industry. This measure will need to garner 997,139 valid signatures by May to qualify for the November 2022 ballot.  [Sports Gambling Initiative, August 31]
• A coalition of California cities submitted a draft initiative to include regulated sports betting on the November 2022 ballot. Supporters of this initiative hope to block the tribal casino monopoly initiative. Proponents will need to gather 997,139 valid signatures to qualify the Act by April to see this on the November 2022 ballot. [Sports Wagering Initiative, August 9]

May 2021

• The State reports that 1,061,282 signatures were valid. This is over 64,000 more than the minimum requirement to appear on the ballot. [CA Secretary of State, May 26]

December 2020

• The Tribal group named the Coalition to Authorize Regulated Sports Wagering, reported filing with about 1.4 million signatures. Due to Covid restrictions, counties were not required to report the number of valid signatures according to the random sample until March 9^th, 2021. [Executive Order, December 14]

September 2020

• California Superior Court grants second extension for Tribes to collect signatures for ballot measure. The new deadline is now December 14^th, 2020. The reasons for this second extension are also due to Covid-19 restrictions in the state of California. [Court Order, September 21]

July 2020

• Judge James P. Arguelles grants extension to Tribes to collect signatures. Arguelles orders the deadline extension to October 12^th, saying "Despite Petitioners’ diligence, the 180-day deadline coupled with Executive Branch orders responding to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly inhibits Petitioners’ ability to place their initiative on the November 2022 ballot." [Court Order, July 3]

June 2020

• Senator Dodd pulls SCA 6. The bill would have needed a two-thirds vote and pass through both chambers by the June 25^th deadline to get on the November 2020 ballot. Dodd cites a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and legislative deadlines as his reason for withdrawing the bill. [Senate News, June 22]
• Tribal Leaders sue the state to extend their deadline for signatures. The Tribes asked the court to extend the deadline of July 20^th, 2020 until all California counties have moved into the third reopening states following the stay-at-home order by at least 90 days. [LA Times, June 9]
• The state legislature game back in session. The State Senate pushed SCA 6 into the Senate Appropriations Committee. There, legislators hammered out details of how the industry would work in this bill. Tribal Casinos and racetracks were to be the only places allowed to operate brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and those locations could partner with online sports betting platforms like DraftKings or BetMGM to offer online sports betting. [SCA-6, June 2]

March 2020

• The COVID crisis halts sports betting legalization efforts. The tribes were well on their way to get the signatures needed for the ballot measure by the deadline in late April, but due to the lockdown ordered in California, they were unable to continue to gather signatures. In the same thread, although legislators opposed the terms of the tribes’ proposal, they were unable to take any action on ACA 16 or SCA 6 as they stopped voting on bills.  [Office of Gov. Newsom, March 19]

November 2019

• 18 of the California’s tribes come together to file petition getting sports betting on the November 2020 ballot. The terms of this petition aren’t as favorable to sports betting enthusiasts as the only places that sportsbook could exist are in tribal casinos and there’s no mention of online sports betting. The tribe needs to gain around 1,000,000 signatures to get the measure on the 2020 ballot.   

June 2019

• Senator Bill Dodd introduces a sports wagering bill. This bill is introduced as a matching bill to ACA 16 and is known as “The California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act.” [SCA 6, June 27]

• Assemblyman Adam Gray introduced a sports betting bill. This bill proposes allowing California residents to vote on amending the Constitution of the State to allow for legal gambling.[ACA 16, June 27]

Sportsbooks expected to come to California

FanDuel

FanDuel is a leader in both sports wagering and daily fantasy sports, with a foothold in California already.  FanDuel has arguably one of the best legal sportsbooks due to its sleek interface, wide range of betting options, and robust technical construction to create a superior betting experience. This book is available in many states and has one of the top mobile apps in the industry, so expect it to expand into the California space as a sportsbook once it's legal.

DraftKings

DraftKings is one of the leaders in the sports betting industry. From bonuses and promotions to available markets, DraftKings Sportsbook is sure to please. Their user-friendly interface makes it easy to place any spread, total, or prop bet you can find. Savvy bettors take advantage of high-value sign-up offers, promotions, codes, and daily boosts to find +EV (expected value) opportunities. This is an area DraftKings excels in and could draw California users to.

BetMGM

BetMGM is one of the premier names in legal online sports betting. Backed by MGM Resorts International, BetMGM is a sportsbook that has a significant amount of brand recognition and influence. BetMGM continues to expand its reach across the nation as it has successfully launched in 13 betting states, and California could be the next. Compelling new and established user promotions is just one reason that BetMGM is definitely a sportsbook worth considering.

Barstool

Under Penn National Gaming, the Barstool Sportsbook could expect to see a move into California if online sports betting is legalized. Barstool is a fast-rising sportsbook thanks to its backing of internet personalities and Penn. The sportsbook and app is almost two years old, but already has a smooth interface to go along with daily promotions and odds boosts.

WynnBet

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of WynnBET's app is its intuitiveness. By keeping its mobile screen more "minimalist", it's very easy to find and make a standard bet. Wynn also provides defined app sections per league, helping make the app more focused and its odd content digestible. With so much going on in California, maybe a smaller app for sports betting is exactly what you might need?

California has more professional sports teams than any other state, which means there's a team for everyone to root for, no matter your taste. Even if you only count the teams at the highest level of competition in their respective sports, including three football teams, five basketball teams, five baseball teams, three hockey teams, and four soccer teams!

These CA teams have won nine championships in the last decade alone, almost one per year. Californians sure do love their pro sports teams. We expect big bets to be placed on these California teams by 2024.

Pro Sports Teams

NFL Betting in California

San Francisco 49ers |  49ers Odds

The 49ers have won five Super Bowls, which is tied for the third-most in NFL history. They play in the NFC West and have been playing their home games at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara since 2014. The 49ers are currently coached by Kyle Shanahan.

Los Angeles Rams | Rams Odds

The LA Rams won Super Bowl LVI. This was their second championship win in team history during the Super Bowl era. Moreover, the Rams have found their permanent home in the new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which opened in September 2020 and is also home to the LA Chargers. They play in the NFC West and are coached by the young whiz kid, Sean McVay.

Los Angeles Chargers | Chargers Odds

The Chargers now play in the gorgeous new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which they share with the LA Rams. The Chargers play in the AFC West and are coached by Brandon Staley.

Recommended Resource: How to Bet on Football Guide

 

NBA Betting in California

Los Angeles Lakers |  Lakers Odds 

The Lakers are tied with the Boston Celtics with the most NBA Finals wins (17) in NBA history. They are in the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and play their home games are at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown LA. Darvin Ham will be coaching his first year as the Lakers' coach this season.

Los Angeles Clippers | Clippers Odds

The Clippers are the only NBA team in California that have yet to win a championship. They are in the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Crypto.com Arena in LA. They are coached by Tyronn Lue.

Golden State Warriors |  Warriors Odds

The Warriors have won six championships in franchise history, with four being won in the last decade during the Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green era. The Dubs are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and play their home games in the brand new Chase Center in San Francisco. Steve Kerr is entering his ninth season as the Warriors' head coach.

Sacramento Kings |  Kings Odds

As one of the least successful NBA teams in California, the Kings haven't won the NBA Finals since their lone championship season in 1951. Sacramento is in the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Golden 1 Center. Mike Brown is entering his first season as the Kings' head coach.

Recommended Resource: How to Bet On Basketball Guide

MLB Betting in California

Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodgers Odds

The LA Dodgers are one of the most storied franchises in MLB history. Since their inception in 1883, they've won seven World Series titles. Dodger fans can enjoy home games at Dodger Stadium, the third-oldest stadium in baseball. The Dodgers are in the NL West and are managed by Dave Roberts.

Los Angeles Angels | Angels Odds

As the winners of one World Series back in 2002, the Angels have struggled to consistently stay atop their division, failing to reach the playoffs in their last seven seasons. The Angels are members of the AL West and play their home games at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Joe Maddon is in his third season as the manager of LAA.

San Francisco Giants | Giants Odds

The Giants began their history at the same time as the Dodgers; in 1883. Since then, SF has won eight World Series titles, which is one more than the Dodgers have won in their history. Three of the eight titles were won between 2010-2014, as they interestingly failed to reach the playoffs in between their championship seasons. As part of the NL West, the Giants play at Oracle Park in SoMa, SF and are managed by Gabe Kapler.

Oakland Athletics | Athletics Odds

The "Moneyball" team has won nine World Series titles in franchise history. Since winning their last title in 1989, the Oakland A's have bragging rights over their fellow Californian MLB teams, since they have won more World Series titles than all of them. The A's are part of the AL West and have played their home games at the RingCentral Coliseum. Mark Kotsay is currently in his first season as the manager of the Oakland A's. 

San Diego Padres | Padres Odds

The Padres are still the only MLB team in California to never win a World Series title. Recent roster changes have given the Padres a real shot at winning their first title within the next several seasons. The Padres are in the NL West and play their home games at Petco Park in San Diego. They are managed by former Oakland A's skipper Bob Melvin.

Recommended Resource: How to Bet on Baseball Guide

NHL Betting in California

Los Angeles Kings | Kings Odds

The Kings are the first NHL team in California. They have won two Stanley Cups in their history, both wins coming in 2012 and 2014. They are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and call the Cryto.com Arena home. Todd McLellan is the head coach of the LA Kings.

 

Anaheim Ducks | Ducks Odds

Formerly known as "The Mighty Ducks," Anaheim joined the NHL in 1993 and won their first Stanley cup in 2007, which was the first year they changed their name to the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks are a Pacific Division team in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Anaheim is coached by Dallas Eakins.

San Jose Sharks | Sharks Odds

As the only NHL team located in the San Francisco Bay area, the Sharks have made playoff appearances in most of their seasons since their inception in 1991. The Sharks are members of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. Their home ice, often referred to as the shark tank, is the SAP Center in San Jose. Bob Boughner coaches San Jose.

Recommended Resource: How to Bet On Hockey Guide

MLS Betting in California

Los Angeles Galaxy

The LA Galaxy is one of the most prestigious and successful clubs in the MLS. The Galaxy was one of 10 MLS charter members and began to play in 1996. Their accolades include playing in nine MLS Cups (5 wins), two U.S. Open Cups, and one CONCACAF Champions' Cup. LA plays at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA and are coached by Greg Vanney.

 Los Angeles FC

Los Angeles FC was a new expansion MLS team in 2014, announced just three days after Chivas USA dissolved. LAFC would be a fresh start, with new black and gold colors and a new state-of-the-art stadium. LAFC plays their home games at the beautiful open-air Banc of California Stadium in the Exposition Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

LAFC had the best season for an MLS expansion club, earning 57 points and even making the playoffs in their inaugural season. The team was even better the following season, winning the Supporters' Shield in their second season with star scorer Carlos Vela picking up the Golden Boot. LAFC beat the rival LA Galaxy in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs but lost to Seattle in the Western Conference Finals. LAFC is coached by Bob Bradley and will hope to begin filling their trophy case soon.

 San Jose Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes are known as the first club to play in and win the first game in MLS history. Since then, the Quakes have won two Supporters' Shields and two MLS Cups. They play their home games in Earthquakes Stadium in San Jose and are coached by Matías Almeyda.

Recommended Resource: How to Bet On Soccer Guide

College Sports Teams in CA

College Football Betting in California

 USC Trojans Football | Trojans Odds 

USC is one of the great college football traditions, with the cardinal and gold uniforms among the most iconic in football. USC claims 11 national championships, ranking them among the elite football programs. USC is a founding member of the Pac-12 and have won 39 conference championships. Starting in 2024, USC will be playing in the Big Ten. The Trojans play their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and are coached by Lincoln Riley. 

 UCLA Bruins Football | Bruins Odds

In comparison to the other campus sports, the Bruins haven't been as successful, as they won their only national championship in 1954. Historically, the Bruins have a sub-.500 record in 36 bowl games and have only one Heisman winner, Gary Beban. UCLA will be playing in the Pac-12 until transferring to the Big Ten in 2024. The Bruins play their home games at the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena and are coached by the inventive Chip Kelly.

 Stanford Cardinal Football | Cardinal Odds

As a Pac-12 school, Stanford has a long and rich football tradition and tends to play old-school football, perhaps appropriate since the program has such a long history. Stanford played in the first-ever Rose Bowl in 1902 and won two national championships in 1926 and 1940. The Cardinal plays at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto and are coached by David Shaw. 

 California Golden Bears Football | Golden Bears Odds

The California Golden Bears are known to be one of the least successful CA college football programs, having won their last national championship 17 years ago. Additionally, they've also won 14 conference championships and have been playing in the Pac-12 Conference (or some version of it) since 1916. The Golden Bears play their home games at California Memorial Stadium on campus in Berkeley and are coached by Justin Wilcox.

 Fresno State Bulldogs Football | Bulldogs Odds

The Bulldogs have bounced around conferences over the years but moved from the Western Athletic Conference to the Mountain West in 2012, where they compete today. Fresno State has won 26 conference titles and played in 28 bowl games. Fresno State plays its home games on campus at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno and are coached by Jeff Tedford.

 San Diego State Aztecs Football | Aztecs Odds

San Diego State rose to prominence as a football program under Hall of Fame coach Don Coryell, known for his incredible Air Coryell offense. The Aztecs won back-to-back-to-back national championships under Coryell from 1966 through 1968 before joining Division I. Additionally, they've won nine conference championships and seven Bowls in school history. San Diego State will be playing their home games in the new Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego moving forward. The Aztecs are coached by Brady Hoke.

 San Jose State Spartans Football | Spartans Odds

The Spartans have won 17 conference titles but have never won the Mountain West, where they compete now. They've played in nine bowl games and have won five of them. The Spartans play at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose and are coached by Brent Brennan.

 We've got a few recommended resources to help you bet with insight on college football in California:

• College Football Betting Tips for Profitability
• College Football Betting Tips on Fading the Public
• Action Data/Tools: College Football Odds, Picks, & Projections

College Basketball Betting in California

UCLA Bruins Men's Basketball | Bruins Odds

No men's basketball program has won more NCAA championships (11) than the UCLA Bruins. The Bruins have played basketball for over a century, but the glory days certainly came under legendary Hall of Fame coach John Wooden. The Wizard of Westwood led UCLA to 10 national championships between 1964 and 1975, one of the greatest dynasties in American sports history. UCLA plays in the Pac-12 and have won 31 conference championships. The Bruins play their home games at Pauley Pavilion in the Westwood district of LA and are coached by Mick Cronin.

USC Trojans Men's Basketball | Trojans Odds

Back in the day, USC men's basketball was a national powerhouse. The Trojans have won seven conference titles but have yet to win an NCAA Championship in their extensive history. USC competes in the Pac-12 conference, but its men's basketball program does not stack up today with its other elite athletic programs. The Trojans play their home games at the Galen Center in LA and are coached by Andy Enfield.

California Golden Bears Men's Basketball | Golden Bears Odds

The Golden Bears basketball program has seen better days. They have won 14 conference championships in school history. The last and only time the Golden Bears cut down the nets as national champions was in 1959 when the PCC became the AAWU Conference (known today as the Pac-12). Cal's home floor is located at the Haas Pavilion in Berkeley and they are coached by Mark Fox. 

Stanford Cardinal Men's Basketball | Cardinal Odds

Today, the Cardinal is not an exceptionally decorated men's basketball program, but Stanford did win their only national championship in 1942. . Stanford competes in the Pac-12, where they've won five conference championships. They play at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto and are coached by Jerod Haase.

San Diego State Aztecs Men's Basketball | Aztecs Odds

San Diego State has risen to prominence after having their best men's basketball season in school history in 2019-20. Unfortunately, San Diego State has never won an NCAA Championship or made deep runs in the annual tournament. The Aztecs have won 10 conference championships since their inception in 1970. Furthermore, San Diego State has been a part of the Mountain West Conference since 1999 and play their home games at Viejas Arena on campus in San Diego. Brian Dutcher has had success as the current coach of the Aztecs, so hopefully the team can make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament within the next few seasons.

St. Mary's Gaels Men's Basketball | Gaels Odds

St. Mary's has developed a reputation as one of the best mid-major programs, especially on the West Coast. As constant qualifiers of the NCAA Tournament over the last decade, the Gaels have yet to appear in the Final since 1959. They've won seven conference titles and play home games in the McKeon Pavilion in Moraga. Randy Bennett will be returning to coach the Gaels again this upcoming season.

San Francisco Dons Men's Basketball | Dons Odds

You may not know much about San Francisco Dons basketball today, but they won two national championships back in 1955 in 1956 when Hall of Famer Bill Russell led the way. San Francisco has the winningest program in the West Coast Conference, with 15 regular-season conference championships won in school history. The Dons play their home games at the War Memorial Gym on campus, commonly referred to as "The Hilltop." Chris Gerlufsen is now the head coach of the Dons after they came off one their most successful seasons in the last fifty years under (previous coach) Todd Golden.

We've got a few recommended resources to help you bet on college basketball in CA:

• How to Bet on College Basketball
• Trends to Know Before Betting Conference Tournaments
• Action Data/Tools: College Basketball Odds & Picks

Other CA Sports Betting Events

The Golden State has plenty of traditional sporting events to entertain sports fans throughout the year with an endless college and pro teams list. But sports don't stop there! In CA, they're just getting started:

The 2028 Summer Olympics

California has hosted the Olympics three times. Los Angeles hosted twice previously, in 1932 and 1984, while Squaw Valley hosted the 190 Winter Olympics. Now LA will host the Olympics for the third time in 2028, the first Summer Olympics in the U.S. since Atlanta in 1996. Expect plenty of action at all of LA's biggest and most well-known venues, including but not limited to SoFi Stadium, the Rose Bowl, The Forum, Crypto.com Arena, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Banc of California Stadium. The Olympics could be a severe financial boon to the LA metro area.

NASCAR Cup Series & Formula One Auto Racing

California has been a hub for auto racing and motorsports for many years. The Auto Club 400 is a 400-mile NASCAR Cup Series race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. The Sonoma Raceway is another famous track hosting NASCAR and IndyCar events. Long Beach has annual IndyCar Series and Formula One events, and there are racing events throughout the state thanks to its year-round fair weather.