• Is Online Betting Illegal In California
• Is Betting Online Legal In California
• Sports Gambling In California
• Online Gambling In California

After a big 2011 crackdown on Web-based poker, the world of online gambling is slowly crawling back.

But the road to change is murky: The rules vary by state, and they're dependent on the very specific legal definitions of 'gambling' versus 'betting.'

Currently, 37 U.S. states allow online betting on games that require at least a moderate degree of 'skill.' Only three states -- Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey -- have legalized gambling on games of 'chance,' which, under the law, includes poker.

'The game-of-skill space has not been very well understood,' said Andrew Paradise, the CEO and founder of Skillz, which launched a U.S. betting platform for skill-based mobile games in April and partnered with Glu Mobile(GLUU) in May.'The determination can be confusing between games and between states, both for players and companies. But the business opportunity is big.'

1. California online gambling is not yet legalized and regulated within state borders. However, there are real money gambling sites available in CA. They’re just based elsewhere. So if you’re wondering you can gamble online for real money in California, the simple answer is yes.
2. There are no legal physical sports betting venues in California, yet. It’s easy to hop over to Nevada and place a wager in the neighboring state, but there is another option for bettors that requires no travel time.

Globally, it's huge: Analysis firm Juniper Research estimates that gambling on mobile devices will hit $100 billion worldwide by 2017.

Since the PASPA overturning, many states introduced legal online betting legislations, but surprisingly, California wasn’t one of them. Many people are curious why that is and, in this article, we will review everything we know about the topic. They have many sports teams, and punters would happily place bets on them if that is allowed. California Gambling Control Resource Book 2020, pdf The following regulations have recently been approved by the Office of Administrative Law. The regulations below are not included in the most recent version of the California Gambling Law and Regulations.

The U.S. gambling industry wants to legalize online chance games across the country, and its lobbying efforts are gaining some momentum. Meanwhile, smaller upstarts like Skillz are taking advantage of the larger skill-based gaming field.

As of now, both gambling and betting apps have to tiptoe the divergent laws currently on the books.

Games of chance vs. skill: Some games are easy to classify. Chess is considered a game of skill, for example, while a slot machine is a game of chance.

But some are less clear cut: Despite rewarding skill, both poker and blackjack are considered games of chance. That means residents of 47 states can't play them online for money.

The delineation can get squishy, and states use a handful of tests to help them classify, according to Paradise, the Skillz CEO. But the states still vary on which tests they use, and how they interpret the results -- for example, some states say any degree of luck makes a game 'chance-based,' while others allow some bit of chance in what they deem skill-based games.

Some use the 'predominance test,' which says that if a skilled player beats an unskilled competitor at least 75% of the time, that's a game of skill. A 'material element' test discovers whether chance is an important component in determining the outcome of a game. The third test figures out whether a game requires a player to bet on his or her own ability to win a game (games of skill do, but games of chance don't).

Skillz hopes that widespread pickup of skill-based betting 'may be a precursor to [gambling on] games of chance,' Paradise said. 'But I think it will take five or more years before we see that really happen. It's one of the biggest discussions in the industry.'

The poker problem: The No. 1 most-debated issue in the field, however, is the Big Kahuna of online gambling -- poker.

Poker is generally considered a game of chance under the law, but that determination is hotly debated. In a case last year, a federal judge in New York ruled that poker is skill-based, adding another wrinkle to the state-by-state differences.

Today, the only legal online poker service is the Las Vegas-based Ultimate Gaming, which launched UltimatePoker.com exclusively for Nevada residents in April. New Jersey officials didn't reply to a request for comment on where its online poker plans stand, and Delaware Lottery director Vernon Kirk said his state hopes eventually to cut deals for its residents to play against people in other states.

Ultimate Gaming's co-founder Tom Breitling said he thinks online poker will spread through the United States in one of two ways: Either federal legislation will legalize poker specifically and give states the right to opt out, or games-of-chance legislation will slowly be passed in the majority of states.

'We're focusing on poker right now, but online gambling is a lot bigger than just that,' Breitling said. 'And it could be so much bigger. It took a lot of work to get to this point, but now that it's here I just don't see it stopping.'

While the legal landscape for sports betting in California shows no signs of moving out of the gray zone anytime soon, there are offshore betting options available to residents of the state looking to bet on sports online. Those living in the Golden State and looking for the best California sports betting sites have several high-quality options to choose from.

These options have been servicing CA residents successfully much to the dismay of state legislators for decades. Recent federal laws in support of online sports betting in the state have paved the way for sweeping legislation across the entire US, including way out west.

It’s only a matter of time until CA legislators move to get their piece of upwards of $2.5 billion in tax revenue. Until then, these California betting sites will rule the roost.

Best California Sports Betting Sites

• BetUS – #1 California sports betting site with a very strong reputation.
• MyBookie – Known for it’s great odds and payout speed.
• BetNow – Newer brand with excellent feedback.
• Bovada – CA betting site that accepts all players from the state.
• BetOnline – Very reputable sportsbook with high customer satisfaction.

3 Reasons to Bet With These California Sports Betting Sites

While the state government battles out what current legislation does or doesn’t imply, plenty of high-quality and trusted offshore California betting sites are waiting to take your business. With multiple options of varying quality to choose from, it’s important for you to choose a safe option that meets your betting needs. What makes the sites we’ve recommended so great? Find out below.

Fast Payouts on Betting Winnings

Just because the California sports betting sites aren’t located on its soil does not mean you should have to wait weeks or months to get paid when you win. All of the betting sites we’ve recommended here quickly pay out winners through traditional methods. Expect to wait only a few hours with cryptocurrency payout options and between a few hours and a few days on more traditional options like e-wallets and bank transfers. Paper checks are also an option, but can take up to a few weeks to receive.

Offering Action on the Sports California Residents Love

We ensure all of the best California sportsbooks we list cover all of the major teams as well as both national and international sports.

Transplants looking to bet on favorite teams from elsewhere in the country or the world will be covered through these options as well.

Safe, Secure, and Time-Tested Operations

Nobody wants to bet on sports online and have to worry about the safety and security of their money. When we choose the best California sports betting sites to include in our listings, we make sure they’re safe, secure, and trusted names that have proven their value over time in the industry.

While these recommended sites are unregulated by the state, most of them undergo regular third-party audits and hold gaming licenses from offshore providers and foreign entities. The bottom line, though, is they have great track records servicing customers from Cali the right way.

The Legal State of Sports Betting in California

In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down parts of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, effectively opening the gateway for states to roll out legalized sports betting.

Is Sports Betting in CA Legal?

Yes, it is legal.

However, sports betting at regulated online betting sites in California is not explicitly stated as legal under state law. The laws surrounding unregulated online sportsbooks servicing the state from offshore locations, however, are in a gray area and many California residents continue to utilize them on a daily basis with no issues.

While many states jumped at the opportunity to bring in additional tax revenue, California has been slow to adopt. Some believe that the power of the federal government would easily override state legislation, while others believe in the contrary viewpoint.

In January of 2020, state legislators met to gain insight from industry experts in an attempt to devise a plan to move forward. While many expected action to ensue following the meeting, this has not been the case.

During the meeting, researchers brought attention to the fact that online sports betting (including mobile betting) could be worth nearly $2.5 billion in annual revenue for California alone. Unfortunately, until the state moves toward sweeping legalization, they’ll have to miss out on those tax profits currently going to offshore sportsbooks.

The biggest question this leaves for residents is whether online sports betting is legal in California. Unfortunately, the answer is unclear and in a gray area.

State-regulated sports betting sites are not currently operating in the state and appear to be illegal based on the language of legislators. But offshore and unregulated betting sites are servicing California residents with no reported issues. To date, there have been no reported legal cases we are aware of that involve any Cali-based bettors having any issues betting online.

For those looking for a clearer answer, you’ll want to contact a California gaming attorney. The best we can tell you from our research is that it’s a gray area supported by federal law, but unsupported by state laws.

Daily Fantasy Sports in California

Is Online Betting Illegal In California

Currently, daily fantasy sports (DFS) fall into the same territory as traditional sports betting in the state of California. That being said, all major providers servicing other states within the US are open for Cali residents to use. While they don’t have a stated public stance, they do not deny residents of the state from setting lineups, entering contests, making wagers, or collecting winnings.

CA Betting Sites FAQ’s

Are There California Sports Betting Sites I Can Bet With?

If you’re looking for state-run sports betting sites operated by brick and mortar casinos within the state, you’re not going to find any. If you’re comfortable playing at unregulated, offshore establishments, you do have options that have been operating without issues for decades that service residents of the Golden State.

What Sports Can I Bet on at California Online Sportsbooks?

The betting sites we’ve recommended here give users the ability to bet on all major sports, politics, entertainment, horse racing, dog racing, seasonal events, and more. Within each category, the betting sites offer extensive options, including traditional bets, live betting, futures bets, prop bets, and more. Any bet types you’re used to seeing at a brick and mortar casino or sportsbook will be available through these options.

What Options Do I Have for Depositing and Withdrawing Money at Top California Sports Betting Sites?

When it comes to banking, you’ll have plenty of safe and efficient options to move your money on and off a betting site. Each sportsbook will offer different options, but most commonly, you’ll see the ability to use debit/credit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, paper checks, and cryptocurrency for both ends of the transaction.

Is Betting Online Legal In California

Debit and credit cards may be limited for withdrawals depending on how you initially deposited, and it can depend on the financial integration setup of the betting site. All of this information is posted and readily available and should be reviewed before you make any deposits.

Sports Gambling In California

Is Betting Sports Online in California Safe?

If you’re wagering with trusted and proven safe California sports betting sites, you should have no issues with the safety of your personal information, money, or wagers. Yes, betting sites regulated by the state government would provide more transparency and overall safety, but that’s currently not an option.

Online Gambling In California

If you’re looking to bet on sports safely in CA, you’ll want to stick to the books with proven track records of exquisite service to customers. Sites that fit that mold are all we’ll ever recommend.