Best Legal California Sports Betting Apps + Sportsbooks In 2026

The top legal California sports betting apps in 2026 allow players from all over the West Coast to bet and win real money safely. Sports betting sites in California like Bovada and BetOnline stand out. Not among those options are popular US-based sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings. No online sports betting regulations proposed by California legislators have passed, which is why the best CA sportsbook apps are all based outside of the state. As this page covers, those failures to pass sports betting laws in CA do not really affect players who still want to bet on sports legally. That’s because the sports betting sites that accept California residents are legal, safe, and easy to use.

• It is legal to bet on sports in CA when using internationally-based sportsbooks in 2026.
• There are many highly rated California betting sites with odds on every major professional and collegiate sport in the state.
• The best sportsbook California bettors can use is Bovada, with BetOnline and MyBookie also strong options for sports gambling.

Best Legal Online Sportsbooks In California

Is Sports Betting Legal In California?

It is legal to use offshore betting sites in California, as long as they hold a legitimate license. In 2026, there are a variety of legal online sportsbooks that are regulated overseas and accept players in California. There is no local regulation for California sports betting at this time but that could change in the future.

Where Can I Bet On Sports At 18 In California?

All of the top sportsbooks we recommend on this page have a legal sports betting age of 18. Because these sites are regulated overseas, the age to bet on sports in California is 18.

How To Bet On Sports In CA From A Phone

The top sports betting apps legal in California include Bovada, BetOnline, and MyBookie. While we qualify these sportsbooks as betting apps, they are not found in the IOS or Google Play stores. Instead, these mobile sports betting sites are available in CA from the mobile browser on any smartphone device. This eliminates the hassle of downloading apps to your mobile device.

What Do I Need To Register At A California Sports Betting Site Fast?

To register for legal online sportsbooks in California, start with giving them your name. Included is some basic information as well. Sign into your legal California online sports betting account. Take advantage of one of their bonuses for California sports bettors. Look at our breakdown of what to expect when you register at legal sports betting sites in California.

• First and Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Contact Info: Email/Phone Number
• Account Password
• Postal Zip Code
• Welcome Bonus Selection
• Make First Deposit

Where’s The Closest Sportsbook From California?

The closest in-person sportsbooks from California are a drive away. These sportsbooks will be in nearby states with legal sports betting. For example, legal sportsbooks in Oregon are closest to those in northern California, while San Diego residents would be best off traveling east to partake in some legal sports betting in Arizona. Despite two good options nearby, the vast majority of Californians travel to the best sportsbooks in Nevada, which of course are in Las Vegas. Once land-based sportsbooks in California are legalized, players should expect locations near major population hubs like Los Angeles or San Francisco or at tribal casinos in surrounding areas.

Where To Place A Parlay Bet In California

A parlay bet is a wager that comprises 2-16 wagers together. Each wager ties into the next, increasing the potential payout. This means that if you win every leg of a parlay, you win the bet. A large payout usually follows, depending on the odds. But if you lose one, you lose the whole bet. When looking for where to bet on sports in California, most betting sites offer parlays.

Parlay Restrictions In CA

There are some limits on what you can wager in a Parlay in California, most of them imposed by the sportsbooks themselves.

1. Same game props are not allowed unless explicitly stated as such.
2. Generally, you can’t parlay spreads and moneylines from the same team.
3. You can’t combine halftime and full time spreads/moneylines from the same team.
4. Alt-lines in a parlay can’t be combined.

MLB Betting in California

California is one of the best states for Major League Baseball (MLB) betting, with passionate fan bases and historic franchises like the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres driving year-round action. While California has yet to bring sportsbooks to baseball stadiums like in Arizona, residents can still bet on MLB games using trusted offshore sportsbooks like Bovada and BetOnline. They have wagers for every Dodgers and Padres game (As, Angels, and Giants as well), along with futures odds, player props, and in-game betting.

• Whether betting on Shohei Ohtani MVP odds or Jackson Merrill’s breakout season, Californians have plenty of ways to get in on the MLB betting action.

Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are always a World Series betting favorite. With Shohei Ohtani on the roster, the Dodgers odds have surged, as the two-way superstar adds even more firepower alongside Mookie Betts. Bettors can wager on Ohtani’s home run totals, strikeout props, and MVP odds, as well as Betts’ batting averages and Gold Glove performances.

Betting on the San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres have built one of the most exciting young cores in baseball, featuring Fernando Tatis Jr. and rising star Jackson Merrill. One of the easiest ways to bet on Fernando Tatis Jr. is through his stolen base totals, home run props, and RBI lines. Betting on Padres games, playoff chances, and player props are the most popular ways to bet.

Top College Football California Sportsbooks 2026

All of the betting sites we recommend on this page take action on in and out of state college football. You can bet on player props and game lines on the UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans, or any other teams that grab your interest. These college football sportsbooks are legal in CA and give all bettors over the age of 18 the chance to make money on college sports betting from home.

Legal California Sports Betting Apps With NFL Odds

The top NFL betting sites in California are all available over the internet. You can use websites like Bovada to place wagers on the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. NFL sportsbooks that take California residents are all international – they operate online, and not in-person, but you can use them legally. You will also find future Super Bowl betting odds for SB61 at Bovada and the other top betting sites that take California players in ​2026.

California Sports Betting Laws In 2026

The sports betting laws in California are clear – the state’s ban on betting in § 337a of the California Penal Code (Part 1, Title 9, Chapter 10) focuses on sportsbooks, not sports bettors. Looking to curb “pool selling + bookmaking”, no sportsbooks in California have a license. But, there aren’t any laws banning citizens or tourists from betting on sports online in California.

California Sports Betting Propositions That Failed in 2022

In November 2022, California voters rejected two competing sports betting propositions: Proposition 26 and Proposition 27. These measures aimed to legalize sports betting in different ways but were both defeated by wide margins after a record-breaking $450–$600 million campaign, making it the most expensive ballot measure fight in U.S. history.

Proposition 26: Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative

• Proposition 26 would have legalized in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and four private horse racing tracks (Santa Anita Park, Del Mar Race Track, Los Alamitos Race Course, and Golden Gate Fields). It also allowed tribal casinos to offer roulette and dice games like craps. Online sports betting would have remained illegal.
• A coalition of about a dozen Native American tribes, including the Pechanga Band of Indians, backed the measure under the campaign “Yes on 26, No on 27 – Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming.” The campaign raised $132.2 million, with major contributions from tribes like the Pechanga Band.
• Card rooms (e.g., California Commerce Club) opposed it, fearing a tribal monopoly on gaming, and formed the “No on 26 – Taxpayers Against Special Interest Monopolies” PAC, raising $44.9 million. Editorial boards like the San Francisco Chronicle, Orange County Register, San Diego Union-Tribune, and Mercury News/East Bay Times opposed it, citing self-serving tribal provisions and lack of broader benefits.

Vote Results

No	68.49%	Approximately 7.6 million votes
Yes	31.51%	Approximately 3.5 million votes

Proposition 27: Legalize Online and Mobile Sports Betting Initiative

• Proposition 27 would have legalized online and mobile sports betting statewide for adults 21 and older, operated by tribes or licensed gaming companies (e.g., DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel) in partnership with tribes. It imposed a 10% tax on sports betting revenue, with funds directed to homelessness programs, mental health support, and poorer tribes without casinos.
• Major gaming companies like DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel led the “Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support” campaign, raising nearly $170 million. A few tribes, such as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, supported it. Also, Major League Baseball endorsed Proposition 27.
• Over 50 tribes and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) fiercely opposed it, spending heavily to protect their gaming exclusivity. They formed the “No on 27” campaign, arguing it was a corporate power grab by out-of-state companies. The California Democratic Party opposed it, while remaining neutral on Proposition 26.

Vote Results

No	83%	Approximately 9.2 million votes
Yes	17%	Approximately 1.9 million votes

The dueling measures confused voters, with conflicting ads and complex provisions (e.g., Proposition 26’s dice games, Proposition 27’s homelessness focus) muddling the debate. The $450–$600 million campaign flooded voters with ads, many of which attacked the opposing measure rather than promoting their own, leading to voter fatigue and skepticism.

• Proposition 27 faced overwhelming resistance from most tribes, who saw it as a threat to their gaming monopoly.
• Proposition 26 lacked strong public support beyond tribal interests.

Failure Of Future Efforts

The California sports betting initiatives proposed for the November 2024 ballot failed to qualify. The Tribal Gaming Protection Act & Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act were filed in 2023 by Eagle1 Acquisitions Corp., LLC. These twin measures aimed to legalize both retail and online sports betting, restricted to tribe-owned casinos. They sought to amend the California Constitution and state laws to give tribes control over sports betting, requiring in-person registration at tribal facilities for online betting.

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), representing 52 tribes, unanimously opposed both measures in December 2023, calling them “disingenuous” and a threat to tribal sovereignty. Chairman James Siva criticized attempts to “divide and conquer” tribes. Tribal leaders like Victor Rocha of the Pechanga Band expressed frustration at not being consulted, labeling the proponents “idiots” on social media.

• After the 2022 debacle, stakeholders were hesitant to invest heavily without a unified strategy, delaying serious efforts to 2026 or beyond.
• The initiatives required 997,139 valid signatures by mid-2024 to qualify for the November 5, 2024 ballot. They failed to gather sufficient signatures, and no vote occurred.

California Sports Betting Timeline

2025

• In July, the California Attorney General’s office said that all daily fantasy sports gambling is considered illegal under the state law in California.
• In September, Assembly Bill 831 was passed, which bans online sweepstakes casinos in the state.

2024

• After a betting market failed to be legalized in 2022, no new propositions made it to the 2024 ballot in favor of locally regulated CA sportsbook apps.

2023

• June 8, 2023: Fliff sued for operating an illegal sportsbook while claiming to be a free-to-play app in violation of the Wire Act.
• February 17, 2023: No legislators introduced any sports betting bills for the 2023 session.

2022

• December 27, 2022: California’s Red Hawk Casino opens a new entertainment center in the failures of Prop 26 and 27.
• November 16, 2022: Tribal leaders claim sportsbook regulation can be successful including tribes.
• November 8, 2022: Prop 26 fails as a California ballot proposal with 68.49% voting no. This accounted for 7.6 million votes. Prop 27 also failed, this one by a vote of 83%, with over 9 million voters deciding against sports betting in California.
• October 31, 2022: CA Gov. Gavin Newsom comes out against Prop 27.
• September 14, 2022: The advertising battle between Prop 26 and Prop 27 heats up. Both parties air attack ads on each other’s sports betting California proposal.
• August 17, 2022: The MLB has comes out in support of sports betting in California. They back Prop 27 for passage.
• June 27, 2022: Prop 27 qualifies for the November 2022 ballot. Full name: The California Solutions to Homelessness & Mental Health Support Act
• May 11, 2022: California tribes want tribal mobile sports betting on the 2024 ballot.
• March 17, 2022: California tribes fight back against anti-sports betting attacks with ads.
• February 25, 2022: The Berkeley IGS Poll shows 45% accept change, 33% oppose change, and 22% are undecided toward the regulation of legal California sportsbooks.
• February 9, 2022: Tribes in California begin a late push for mobile sports betting in 2022.
• January 18, 2022: A stand down gains national attention by major media outlets.

2021

• December 27, 2021: A lawsuit launches to invalidate props by card room owners.
• November 2, 2021: California’s tribes propose a new tribal gaming proposal for the 2022 ballot.
• October 20, 2021: Three mayors of major CA cities come out in support of legal sports betting in California. They’re backed by major sports betting operators. Mayors Jerry Dyer (Fresno), Libby Schaaf (Oakland), and Robert Garcia (Long Beach) back the homelessness bill.
• August 12, 2021: Commercial sports betting operators join forces with California card rooms. They back the California Solutions to Homelessness & Mental Health Support Act.
• February 9, 2021: The California Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation gives market access to sports betting entity Kindred Group.

2020

• December 18, 2020: A tribal betting bill achieves the goal of one million signatures to get on the 2022 ballot.
• November 2, 2020: A presentation of a proposed gaming compact. It would give sports betting in California exclusivity to the 109 recognized tribes.

Latest News

Top 6 Questions About California Legal Sports Betting

Can I Bet Online If I Live In California?

Anyone looking for how to bet on sports in California will be happy to know that it is legal to use the online betting sites that are reviewed on this page.

Can CA Residents Bet On FanDuel?

No. CA Residents can only bet on FanDuel if they are not currently inside the borders of CA, and are instead in a state where FanDuel is approved.

Can I Bet On Bovada If I Live In California?

Not only is Bovada legal in California, but it has been one of the most popular sports betting sites available for over a decade.

Can I Use A VPN To Bet On Sports In California?

You can, but you might be contravening local laws if you do. Most legal sports betting sites that accept California residents do not like players using a VPN.

What Gambling Websites Are Legal In California?

While there is no specific regulation, the best CA sportsbook apps like Bovada are legal to use in the state because they hold international licenses.

Is BetOnline Legal In California?

Yes, BetOnline is legal in California. Although many people ask “can I use BetOnline in California”, the answer is always the same – yes.

Horse Racing Betting In California

Pari-mutuel horse racing betting has been legal in California since 1933, with the industry regulated by the California Horse Racing Board. For players looking for the best legal horse betting sites, players can choose to use sites that offered throughout the US like Bovada. Those legal racebooks in California offer odds on horse racing in both the racebook itself or in the sportsbook for the biggest races. This is one of the best ways to engage in legal California sports betting.

Daily Fantasy Sports In California

Daily Fantasy Sports does not have any specific regulation in California, but online operators like DraftKings and FanDuel have still been accepting players for many years. In July of 2025, the Attorney General in the state said that it is illegal for DFS apps to operate in California, but operators disagree and are currently still taking players at this time.