California Sports Betting: Latest 2025 Legalization Updates

Despite potentially having one of the biggest sports betting industries in the U.S., California has not yet legalized sports betting. Sports betting online in California is currently illegal under California Penal Code section 337a. The law’s wide reach covers online betting on all sports or games of skill. 

Sports betting is not legal in California. Tribal gaming in the state has long been regulated through compacts under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), meaning any legalization of sports betting must navigate tribal-state relationships.

California will likely require a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting, as a legislative solution without a successful ballot measure has not been successful in the past.

California tribes have raised concerns that conversations about legalizing sports betting have been led by national operators rather than the tribes themselves. With over 100 federally recognized tribes in California, it will take time to get all parties on the same page.

DraftKings CCO Jeremy Elbaum has said that, regardless of the final structure, the Sports Betting Alliance's goal is to include all tribes in the arrangement and protect tribal sovereignty. The SBA Tribal Advisory Board meets with the Alliance every two weeks to advise on sports betting strategy in California.

• Nov. 14, 2025: The Hard Rock Casino at Fire Mountain opens a new Hard Rock Sports Bar, designed to be ready for sports betting whenever it is legalized in California.
• Oct. 11, 2025: Gov. Gavin Newsom signs Assembly Bill No. 831, prohibiting sweepstake casinos, into law.
• Sept. 2025: The Sports Betting Alliance’s Tribal Advisory Council members circulate a document titled “YES Pledge: Support for Online Sports Betting in California” to rally support to legalize sports betting in California. The state’s biggest tribal association (California Nations Indian Gaming Association) does not support it. 
• April 2, 2025: Tribal leaders from the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) and the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN) push back against notions that they've decided on how sports betting would be structured.
• April 1, 2025: Reps from DraftKings and FanDuel at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention share their plans for creating a tribal entity to contract with national operators in California.
• Jan. 21, 2025: An Indian Gaming Association panel at the International Casinos Exhibition in Barcelona reveals that tribal leaders won't pursue sports betting legislation in 2026.
• June 17, 2024: The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear a case that would have challenged the Seminole Tribe's 30-year compact with Florida, which gives the tribe exclusive oversight of online sports betting. This opens the door to legalization in other states.

Whenever it does become legal, California will likely adopt regulations and restrictions similar to those of other legal sports betting states: Gamblers must be 21 or over with a valid ID and Social Security number with geolocation tools enabled.

The last genuine attempt to legalize sports betting in California happened in 2022. Since then, conversations between California tribes, national operators, and lawmakers have largely stalled.

2023

Two new ballot initiatives were filed with the California Attorney General's office: The Tribal Gaming Protection Act, which would have allowed the governor to enter into gaming compacts with tribes to authorize sports betting, and the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act, which barred non-tribal entities from offering sports betting.

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association, representing 52 tribes, voted unanimously to oppose the latest sports betting initiatives, citing a lack of cooperation with tribes during the development of the initiatives.

2022

Propositions 26 and 27 were added to the California state ballot. Prop 26 would have allowed in-person sports betting at California's 60+ tribal casinos, but no online sports wagering. Proposition 27 would have allowed online sports betting to be run by tribal casinos and several national operators. Both propositions failed, with 70% of voters rejecting Prop 26 and 83% rejecting Prop 27.

Proposition 27 had backing from major national sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Fanatics.

2019

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 16 was introduced in June and referred to committee the following year.

2018

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down PASPA, which had previously barred states from legalizing sports betting.

2017

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 18, which would introduce a state constitutional amendment to allow sports betting if PASPA were struck down, was introduced in July and referred to the committee the following May. It never gets any further.

California online betting sites could become a reality soon. Many USA betting apps are maneuvering to become the first to go live. 

Here’s who we expect to be at the front of the line when California's online sports betting laws go live:

Sports betting in California will all be about ease of use, available markets, and big bonuses. You’ll be able to get your money in and out safely and quickly while opting into the latest odds boosts and loyalty deals.

Based on what other states accept as payment methods, these are the banking options you can expect in California:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Online bank transfer
• Prepaid card
• PayPal
• PayNearMe
• Check
• VIP Preferred (ACH/e-Check)
• In-person deposit at a retail sports betting outlet

You can deposit cash into your online sports betting account instantly. Open the cashier tab online or on your mobile and select one of your preferred payment methods. Enter the amount you want to deposit, plus your account password.

California sports betting sites will allow both cashouts and deposits. You may be restricted to a limited range of cash-out options, such as online banking and prepaid cards. Typically, credit cards won’t be eligible for a withdrawal request.

You’ll have access to thousands of markets when sports betting in California. Bet on your favorite sports, from football and baseball to hockey and college sports. You can even enjoy UFC betting on the big fights.

• NFL Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers
• Prominent College Football Teams: UCLA, USC, Cal, San Diego State, Stanford

NFL betting sites will easily be the most popular markets in California. CA sportsbooks will offer you plenty of opportunities, with hundreds of pregame lines available. Plus, you'll enjoy Super Bowl betting in California with many bonuses and special odds.

The San Francisco 49ers have played in SF since 1946. The Niners are tied for the third-most Super Bowl wins of all time with five. Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Jerry Rice led the team to all five victories throughout the 1980s and '90s. The LA Chargers have played in Inglewood since 2017, having previously played in San Diego for 56 years. 

The LA Rams have moved back and forth from Los Angeles to St. Louis throughout their history. Since 2016, the Rams have played in Inglewood. They've won two Super Bowls, one representing St. Louis and one representing Los Angeles.

Though you can't bet within the state, we track NFL odds at Gambling.com.

It’s unclear whether college football betting sites will be permitted in California.

• NBA Teams: Sacramento Kings, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors
• WNBA Teams: LA Sparks, Golden State Valkyries
• Prominent College Basketball Teams: UCLA, San Diego State

NBA betting sites promise to bring lots of fun to California. 

The LA Lakers play in downtown Los Angeles and have been based there since 1960. Their 17 NBA Finals wins rank them second among all teams. Some of the NBA's brightest stars, including Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James, have donned the gold and purple over the years.

It’s unclear whether college basketball betting sites will be permitted in California.

• MLB Teams: LA Dodgers, Anaheim Angels, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres

Baseball will be a big business for MLB betting sites in California. Bet pregame or live as the game happens. You can even follow all the action live via graphic match visualizers.

The LA Dodgers play in downtown Los Angeles and have been there since moving from Brooklyn in 1958. Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson famously broke the color barrier in pro baseball as a member of the Dodgers. 

The Dodgers have won three World Series since 2020, winning back-to-back World Series in 2024 and '25 behind superstar Shohei Ohtani. In total, the Dodgers have won seven World Series titles, ranking them sixth among MLB franchises.  

• NHL Teams: LA Kings, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks

Californians will hopefully be able to use NHL betting sites soon. Bet the puck line, moneyline, or total points on your favorite NHL teams. Top California sports betting sites will carry prices on the night’s games, including markets on the top scorer and scorer of the next goal.

The LA Kings have played in the greater Los Angeles area since 1967. They've won two Stanley Cups in franchise history, though neither of them came while Wayne Gretzky (aka "The Great One") was a member of the team.

The San Jose Sharks began playing in the NHL's Western Conference in 1991. Founded in 1993 as an expansion team, the Anaheim Ducks play at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The Ducks have won one Stanley Cup in team history. 

• MLS Teams: LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Football Club, San Jose Earthquakes
• NWSL Teams: Angel City FC, Bay FC, San Diego Wave FC

The Los Angeles Football Club, an MLS expansion team founded in 2014, plays at BMO Stadium in the Expo Park area of L.A. Since then, they've won the MLS Cup once and advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League finals twice in a four-year span.

One of the 10 charter teams of the MLS, the LA Galaxy is based in Carson, CA. They are five-time winners of the MLS Cup and have featured all-time greats like David Beckham and Landon Donovan in their ranks.

• NASCAR Racetracks: Auto Club Speedway, LA Memorial Coliseum, Sonoma Raceway

California presents several distinct challenges for NASCAR teams due to the state's diverse venues, which are spread across its territory. 

Auto Club Speedway in Fontana has traditionally been one of the fastest 2-mile ovals on the circuit, where tire wear and long-run pace matter far more than raw qualifying speed. 

In contrast, the LA Memorial Coliseum hosts a unique exhibition short-track event on a temporary circuit. Sonoma Raceway adds yet another layer of complexity as one of NASCAR’s premier road courses. 

California NASCAR races are highly venue-dependent, so analyzing historical performance at each track type is essential.

• PGA Courses: Pete Dye Stadium Course, Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach, Riveria Country Club, Tahoe Mountain Club, Silverado Resort

California’s golf venues span coastal, desert, and mountain terrain, offering a range of betting angles tied closely to course conditions and player profiles. 

Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, and Riviera Country Club represent three of the most iconic—and most predictive—venues on the PGA TOUR, each rewarding players with elite ball-striking and strong tee-to-green consistency. Pebble’s small greens and unpredictable ocean winds demand accuracy, while Torrey Pines’ long layout and thick Kikuyu rough favor powerful drivers and early tee-time scoring. Riviera is widely known as a ball-striker’s paradise where course history strongly correlates with success. 

Bettors evaluating California events should prioritize course fit, weather patterns, and a player’s past performance on similar layouts.

• Pro Tennis Events: Indian Wells

Indian Wells stands alone as California’s marquee tennis betting venue, hosting the BNP Paribas Open, universally regarded as the “fifth major” on the ATP and WTA calendars. 

Played in the desert air of the Coachella Valley, the tournament features slow, gritty hard courts that extend rallies and reward patient, baseline-oriented players who can generate their own power. The unique combination of high bounce, slower conditions, and wide courts typically favors strong returners and all-court players with the stamina to handle long matches in warm weather. Wind can also play a subtle but meaningful role, especially during afternoon sessions. 

For prospective bettors, past performance at Indian Wells is a valuable indicator, as many top players exhibit clear patterns of success or struggle based on how well their game translates to the venue’s distinctive conditions.

California permits parimutuel horse racing betting sites. You can place pooled bets at racetracks in the Golden State and at off-track wagering facilities that accept bets.

Some Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) websites also let you bet on parimutuel markets remotely. Five tracks in California offer betting on races. The California Horse Racing Board regulates wagering.

Daily Fantasy Sports

California doesn’t have specific laws governing daily fantasy sports. Many of the best daily fantasy sports sites offer their services to players in the Golden State. 

Select your team and players within your budget and earn points based on their performance. You can enter real-money contests and win prizes at the best daily fantasy sports sites.

California's largest daily fantasy sports sites run regular, big-money promotions annually. Alongside weekly prize contests, there are one-match competitions and even season-long contests that reward the long-term pickers.

Land-Based Tribal Casinos

Federally recognised tribes may operate gaming on their lands under the IGRA and state–tribal compacts. These casinos offer slot machines and table games in compliance with negotiated compacts.

Licensed card rooms allow “player-banked” or “non-banked” card games, where players compete against each other, and the venue charges a fee rather than acting as the house. Card rooms (or card clubs) are separately licensed and regulated.

Lottery & Charitable Gaming

Constituted in 1984 by voter approval, the California State Lottery offers draw games, scratch-offs, and multi-state lotteries.

Non-profit organisations may conduct bingo, raffles, and poker nights (under specific conditions) for fundraising purposes.