Horse race betting in California has a rich and storied history. The famed Santa Anita Park thoroughbred race track in Arcadia is the showcase of some of the biggest and most important racing events in the United States. The track was opened in 1934, and is the oldest racetrack in Southern California.
In 1933, California passed legislation allowing pari-mutuel wagering, and it is no coincidence that this particular racetrack with its gorgeous backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains – considered by many horse racing aficionados as the most beautiful racetrack in the world – was opened only one year after that gambling legislation was put into effect.
California’s legal sports betting age is 18. In order to partake in sports betting at online sportsbooks, you must be at least 18 years of age or older. Online sportsbooks will not allow sports bettors to wager without legal identification that proves they are at least the required legal sports betting age. . Contrary to what you find on some outdated sites, online horse race betting is legal in California. The state’s legislature passed a bill allowing interest horse race betting in 2010.
In the meantime, online sports betting with offshore sites is the only option. Are There any Legal Online Sportsbooks Currently Hosted in California? Right now there is no legal sports betting in California live or on the internet. The sites that are available for.
Today, there are half a dozen or so California horse race tracks and numerous OTB (off-track betting) locations. However, not everyone who wants to play the ponies can do so conveniently at these retail venues. For that, California online horse betting allows access without having to travel to Santa Anita Park or any of the other five racetracks in the state.
Thoroughbred horse racing has also become an intricate part of the California online betting platform, available at multiple online sportsbooks and casinos that accept CA players. You will often see CA online poker betting available on these sites as well.
Can I Legally Bet on Horses in California?
When it comes to horse betting, California gamblers have access to a regulated and approved gambling market in the state. The California Horse Racing Board is the regulatory body that governs horse racing in both brick-and-mortar and domestic online capacities. They allow the state's horse tracks to offer online wagering, and tracks like the Del Mar Turf Club have handy horse racing apps for iPhone and Android.
Is Online Horse Betting Legal In California At Offshore Sites?
Yes! And for most horseplayers, this is by far the best option. California online horse betting has the advantage of offering 24/7 access to domestic and international tracks from any computer or smartphone with an Internet connection, which is something that horse racing betting in CA at land-based tracks simply cannot match.
For online horse betting, California residents can wager with the following offshore racebooks. Each of these books features tracks from the US, Canada, Mexico, England, Ireland, Japan, the Middle East, and more. We have approved each of these racebooks through a careful review process that determines the legitimacy of each site and the quality of their CA betting options.
Industry Leading Online Racebooks Accepting Bettors From California
| Casino Name | Bonus Offer | CA Accepted? | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Racebook | 50% Up To $250 | Visit Site | |
| Betonline Racebook | 50% Up To $1,000 | Visit Site | |
| Bookmaker Racebook | 100% Up To $300 | Visit Site |
Our Recommended Online Racebook for California Bettors
Bovada is America's favorite online gambling site, and it features a robust racebook as part of their Internet casino experience. CA residents and visitors can legally place wagers on thoroughbred horse races that are held at horse tracks in California, including the Delmar, Santa Anita Park, and Hollywood racetracks, as well as multiple racetracks throughout the United States and internationally. At Bovada, you'll be able to bet on the ponies nearly every day, all year round!
By opening an account at Bovada, you can take advantage of horse racing rebates, and you can accept a $250 Sports Welcome Bonus that can be used at their racebook, as well. Because the website is based outside the United States in Costa Rica (operating under the license of the renowned Bodog brand), California online horse betting is legal and safe with this provider.
Off-Track Betting on Horses in California
Simulcast betting is a horse racing platform that allows gamblers to wager at off track betting (OTB) facilities. OTB horse racing isn't available online, as bettors must be at physical brick-and-mortar facilities to wager on live races being held elsewhere. These venues also broadcast the races themselves, and they often feature meets from many different states.
With approximately two dozen California off-track betting locations, residents and visitors can more easily bet horses than in years past. Still, for true convenience, nothing beats the multiple California casino betting options listed here, as each offers California online horse betting as part of their virtual casino and sports betting experiences.
Live Land Based Horse Betting vs California Online Racebooks
Nothing can beat the physical thrill of gambling at a beautiful and historically important racetrack. You can place a bet, have a drink, hear the thundering hooves of the powerful thoroughbreds sprinting out of the gate and rocketing down the homestretch, enjoy some fine dining, and interact with other like-minded individuals. The experience that is second to none.
But for those who can't make it to the track and don't care for OTB California betting, offshore racebooks are the best solution. At these sites, you can get the exciting rush of California online horse betting no matter where you are in the Golden State. Like the great Secretariat, that kind of convenience is king, and because it's legal, you'll never get a Citation for participating. Whether online or off, horse race betting in California is a hot tip on a can't miss sure thing.
After the repeal of PASPA in 2018, states had the right to decide if they wanted to legalize and how to regulate gambling in their states. Though some states (like New Jersey and Pennsylvania) forged ahead with legalizing sports betting in retail locations and online, California legalities have been slower fought.
Despite having made various attempts to legalize online betting and sports betting in the state, California so far hasn’t been able to. Though CA online sports betting is currently illegal, the potential tax benefits are likely to sway even those most apathetic to gambling.
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Most Likely CA Online Sports Betting Sites
Though the future of California online sports betting is still up in the air, we can make some educated guesses about what the market will potentially look like. Here are some likely CA online sports betting sites to open in CA after legalization. These are top sports betting sites in other states and have a high probability of gaining access to the California market as future CA online sportsbooks.
FanDuel
FanDuel has both an online sportsbook as well as a daily fantasy app and site. Since fantasy bets are legal in California online sports betting, there is a strong chance that Fanduel will expand once California laws are finally drawn.
Caesars Sportsbook
Since there is a Harrah’s retail casino in California and Harrah’s is owned by Caesars, it is highly likely that Caesars would open a CA online sportsbook once online betting is legalized.
DraftKings
DraftKings are another daily fantasy based site. The success and popularity of this legal form of California online sports betting is a great way for DraftKings to become a California online sportsbook after legalization.
BetMGM
MGM’s largest single retail casino is located in Las Vegas, not far outside the California border. Since MGM already has affiliations with the California Gaming Commission, they could prove a valuable resource and a pretty safe bet for a future BetMGM site.
California Betting Laws
There aren’t currently any laws in California prohibiting online gambling. However, this also means that it is not state sanctioned or regulated. You cannot legally start a gambling business in the state, but technically there are no laws saying you cannot bet online. You will not face any type of prosecution for betting online in California, but you should still be aware of the safety of the sports betting websites you’re using.
States where you can already place an online sports bet today :
Updated on :
Colorado Illinois Indiana Iowa Michigan Nevada New Jersey Pennsylvania Tennessee Virginia West Virginia
California Online Sports Betting: Events and Betting Markets
Since the sports industry is so large, the potential for California online sports betting is endless. From types of wagers to the sheer number of California teams to bet on, there will be plenty of options when California online sports betting is legalized.
Common Types of Bets
The wide variety of sports leaves the market open for a ton of innovation in betting styles.
Straight Bets
These are the most common types of bets in the industry. When the betting line is set, bettors decide whether to bet on the favorite or the underdog. If you choose the favorite, you increase your betting odds. However, the favorite has to win the game with a higher number of points than the point spread for you to cash in. If you choose the underdog, they have to win or at least lose by less than the point spread. Therefore, while your betting odds increase when betting for the favorite, so does the burden of requirements.
Total Line Bets
This is also a popular sports bet. It’s also pretty straightforward. A number is set for the predicted combined final score of both teams. Then, you would guess whether you believe the actual total will be over or under that amount. It can often be a bet made for half a game in sports like football or basketball.
Money Line Bets
Mostly used in baseball and hockey, these types of bets can be a risk as they do not involve a point spread. Meaning the amount you have to bet varies whether you choose to bet on the favorite or the underdog. For instance, if the Yankees are favored to win against the Dodgers, you may see the betting odds described like this: Dodgers (+120), Yankees (-135). This means to bet on the Dodgers, you would only need to put down $100 and you could potentially win $120. Whereas, you would need to bet $135 on the Yankees to win $100.
Parlay Bets
These are probably the highest risk bets out there. They involve grouping together multiple bets together and can often be bets that last an entire season. There is very little room for error in these types of bets because you need to win all of your separate bets to see any money.
Teaser Bets
This bet is a bit of a twist on a parlay. It is not as high risk and also not as high reward. Bets are still grouped together like a parlay, but you are able to tweak the point spread in this style of betting. Making it a bit less lucrative and a bit more controlled.
Head-to-Head Bets
These bets are made on non-team sports. In sports such as golf and NASCAR, these bets simply represent which of two competitors will win. Often, a money line will be attached as a way to handicap a race. Though this is a popular betting style, it’s also a hard gamble to make considering the size of the field.
Most Popular Sports to Bet On
- Football (both NFL and college)
- Basketball (NBA)
- Tennis
- Hockey (NHL)
- Baseball (MLB)
- Soccer
- Golf
- Boxing
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
Popular California Events
- Auto Club 400 - this is the only NASCAR event held in Southern California. It’s held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana and usually takes place in March.
- Vans U.S. Open of Surfing - this is known as the biggest surfing event in the world. It’s held in Huntington Beach over nine days in July/August.
- AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM- this golfing event started in 1937 with an idea from Bing Crosby. It’s a fun event held in February involving golf professionals and A-list celebrities so it draws a huge crowd of in person as well as at home spectators.
- BNP Paribas Open - held in March, this is the largest international tennis tournament other than the four Grand Slams.
- Sea Otter Classic - known as a “celebration of cycling”, this Monterrey based biking event features a wide range of cycling opportunities.
Best Teams to Bet On
Below is a list of the Major League teams in California. California has nearly twice the amount of major league teams than any other state. All of them present great betting opportunities.
Baseball
- Los Angeles Angels
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Oakland Athletics
- San Diego Padres
- San Francisco Giants
Basketball
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Sacramento Kings
- Los Angeles Sparks
Football
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Oakland Raiders
- San Francisco 49ers
Hockey
- Anaheim Ducks
- Los Angeles Kings
- San Jose Sharks
Soccer
- LA Galaxy
- Los Angeles FC
- San Jose Earthquakes
How To Bet Online In California
Common Payment Options
For most states, there are a few common payment methods in online sports betting. Here are some of the more popular options.
- Debit/Credit cards
- Paypal
- Prepaid Cards
- Cash at a retail partner’s sportsbook
- ACH/Wire Transfer
CA Online Sports Betting FAQ
Are sports betting sites legal in the United States?
In the United States, there was a federal ban on sports betting from 1992 to 2018. Known as PASPA, this law made it impossible for states to make their own laws about sports betting. Unless they had been grandfathered in and were already partaking in sports betting before 1992.
When PASPA was overturned in 2018, states regained control of being able to make laws individually. There are legal sports betting sites in the US, however, you should be aware of what state you’re in and what laws apply before betting.
What do I need to register at an online betting site in California?
Registering for an account with most sports betting websites is pretty easy and usually can be done in a couple of minutes. You will have to give your full name, address and date of birth to prove you are at least 21 years of age. You will also have to give an email address as well as some account information like username and password. Additionally, you will have to choose your payment preferences.
Is it safe to deposit money at sports betting sites in California?
Since the California online sports betting market is still unregulated, choosing a top sports betting site with a good reputation for safety is important. The best way to find out whether a particular sports betting website is safe is to do some research. There are plenty of reviews out there for bettors to read and educate themselves with. Choose a website with a good reputation and you should feel very secure about depositing your money.
Can I set betting limits?
Yes. On most betting sites you can set deposit limits, loss limits and transfer limits. This helps you limit your losses and betting liability. You can decide whether you want these limits to apply on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis.
Final Thoughts on Betting in California
Can I Bet Online In California Edd
Though it’s still unregulated now, California online sports betting has some great groundwork for legalization. Since other states have been paving the way, there are also some great established online sports betting sites to potentially open in CA. Though California online sports betting is currently all offshore and unregulated, bettor’s look forward to potential future California online sportsbooks. In addition to serving a purpose for vested CA bettors, legalizing CA online sports betting also stands to bring in tons of tax revenue for the state. A win win solution for the state!