People looking to make a bet on sports in California may need to look into their other options.
Betting on sports is illegal in California, as it is in the majority of the United States. This isn’t to say that most Americans don’t want to legalize sports betting. It’s just that most legislature looks to avoid making it legal in their states, despite the research that shows the taxes alone can bring in billions and hundreds of thousands of jobs would be created.
Currently, the only states that have legal sports betting are Nevada, Montana, Delaware, and Oregon. It sadly doesn’t look like California is going to cave any time soon to allow sports books in the state.
There are a few options for sports fans trying to find out where to bet on sports games in California.
Out of state casinos – This is probably the least likely choice, unless you live in Northern California, closer to Nevada and Oregon casinos that have sports books. The benefit to these is you get paid on the spot in the event that you place a winning bet.
Social Gambling – Some states actually have laws against friends/family/colleagues/etc. betting cash against each other. California on the other hand, does allow social gambling. You can always make a bet with somebody you know or meet at a bar. The downside to these bets are taking money from people you know, and risking not getting paid back.
Betting on sports online – A lot of states have made online gambling illegal. Is online gambling legal in California? Sort of. California hasn’t made laws against participating in online gambling, so it is legal to gamble online in California. It is however illegal to run an online gambling site in the United States, so you need to look to other countries that have online gambling sites for US players. Below is a list of respected online sports books and online casinos that accept US players:
Bovada Online Casino and Sports Book
- An easy-to-use sportsbook interface with all major sports markets, live betting and the largest selection of props bets in the US.
- Over 100 casino games including download and instant play Blackjack, Roulette and custom-designed slot machines.
- Competitive welcome bonuses including a 20% Sports free bet bonus, $500 Casino match bonus, and 100% Poker bonus up to $1,000
Sportsbook.com
Is a privately held online gaming firm, featuring sports betting, online poker, casino games and horse race betting that caters to the U.S. market.
For more information on California gambling laws, please click here.