California

California is the biggest state in the U.S. by population, yet it remains one of the few states without legalized sports betting. Despite many attempts, The Golden State has been unable to agree on any sort of gambling bill, and with tribal casinos all over the place, it will be hard for them to do so anytime soon.

Aside from horse racing and fantasy sports, there isn’t anything legal to bet on in California. While DFS apps are growing by the day and offer some exciting contests comparable to sports betting, they do not allow customers to wager on the variety of markets that most sports betting apps do.

The DFS apps available in CA include Underdog, Sleeper, Betr, DraftKings DFS, FanDuel DFS, and more, so residents are getting the cream of the crop regarding this market.

While California has strict gambling laws, it does offer some quality horse racing tracks. Residents can place horse racing bets in person and download multiple brand-name racebooks from some of the biggest operators in the game.

Online sports betting in The Golden State

Every state that has legalized betting or is working towards it has hurdles to jump through, and for California, one of the biggest hurdles is the tribal casinos. After controlling the gambling scene in CA for years, the tribal casinos know that if mobile betting is legalized in the state and big-name sportsbooks like DraftKings can enter the market, their business will be significantly affected.

In 2021, “The Age-Verified Tribal Online and In-Person Sports Wagering & Homelessness Solutions Act” became the second tribal proposal and fourth sports betting initiative in the state. It would have legalized online and retail sports betting, but like the first proposal, it was unsuccessful.

Most recently, in 2022, Prop 26 and Prop 27 were introduced to voters on the ballot. Prop 26 would allow retail-only sports betting in tribal casinos and horse race tracks, while Prop 27 would allow mobile betting only and was backed by some influential names in the industry, like BetMGM and FanDuel.

Unsurprisingly, the tribes fought tooth and nail against Proposition 27. With that, a petition was started to put this proposition on the ballot in the state, and after one million people signed it, it was allowed. However, even with the petition, residents voted against both propositions.

Getting a proposition like this on the ballot is an excellent first step, but the fact that it took a petition to even get to that point is not ideal moving forward. The household name sportsbooks will likely continue to fight for their rights to enter the state legally since it would be very profitable. Still, it doesn’t look like the discourse with the tribal casinos will stop anytime soon.

Sports betting & gambling legislation in CA

Some states have been vehemently against sports betting or gambling legalization since it’s grown in popularity, but California is not one of those states. Since 2017, there have been consistent efforts to bring legalized sports betting to the Golden State, but between the tribes and a large portion of the state against the idea, every single initiative or proposition brought about has died at some point in the process.

Advocates for sports betting have tried many different approaches to legalization, including Initiative 23-0031, which would allow the governor to negotiate an amendment with the California tribes.

Even specific cities in the state have tried to address the issue themselves. In 2021, Gardena Mayor Tasha Cerda introduced the California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act, which is backed by four California cities and would legalize retail and online sports betting.

Other sports betting propositions have included the aforementioned Proposition 26, which would have allowed in-person sports betting only at tribal casinos and racetracks. This proposition would have allowed games like roulette to be played at these casinos, which were backed financially by the tribes themselves.

In-N-Out Line Length Wagers: Betting on Drive-Thru Wait Times at Iconic Locations

Few things unite Californians and tourists like the unmistakable aroma of In-N-Out Burger and the equally unmistakable lines that stretch around the block at lunchtime. Those wait times can certainly test the patience of hungry customers, so why not add a betting element to the waits to make them more tolerable?

The outline of the idea would be placing micro-wagers on which In-N-Out drive-thru clears its queue faster than the other or betting on the average wait time per customer. With geolocation technology, crowd-sourced data already in use for other real-time applications, creating a betting market around queue lengths or order volume is more feasible than it may sound. 

These novelty bets could be offered via geofenced mobile apps or as promotional tie-ins through food-focused micro-wagering platforms. Both options would, of course, come down to whether the state can legalize sports betting. 

The idea is fun, localized, and 100% Californian. In a world where everything from hotdog-eating contests to esports gets wagered on, betting on burgers might just be the next food frontier in the betting sphere.

The legal and moral dilemma behind betting on celebrity lawsuits

Hollywood’s biggest courtroom battles already captivate global audiences—could they become a legitimate betting market? With high-profile defamation cases and billion-dollar business feuds regularly making headlines, wagering on verdicts and settlements might represent the next frontier in celebrity gambling. The potential markets could include odds on whether a reality star wins their lawsuit against a media outlet or if two A-list celebrities reach a settlement before trial.

Of course, this is an ethical nightmare, but such betting could attract a massive following, much like political or reality TV wagers. Online sportsbooks could one day offer prop bets on case durations, settlement figures, and more. However, major legal and moral concerns, such as potential jury tampering, will likely keep this concept more of a quiet wager between friends type of market and not one that is offered on major online sportsbooks.

Most recent updates from the CA sports betting scene

• April 14, 2025: In the first round of the NBA playoffs, the LA Lakers will play the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the LA Clippers will play the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers are (-190) to win their series and the Clippers are (+120).

• March 17, 2025: The UCLA Bruins women's basketball team has received the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. They are (+600) to win the National Championship.

• March 10, 2025: The UCLA Bruins have the 4th best odds to win the Big Ten Tournament at (+650) on DraftKings.

• March 5, 2025: With baseball season around the corner, the San Diego Padres are (+1000) to win the NL West and (+650) to reach the NLCS.

• February 26, 2025: Rumors are circulating that Matthew Stafford may be allowed to seek a trade from the LA Rams. The Rams are (+1300) to win the NFC during the 2025-26 season.

• February 24, 2025: Heading into Luka Doncic's first meeting with the Mavericks since the trade, the LA Lakers are (+750) to win the Western Conference and (+1600) to win the NBA Finals.

• February 17, 2025: Warriors guard Steph Curry captured his second NBA All-Star MVP in front of his home crowd. Entering the second half of the season, the Warriors are (+1400) to win the Western Conference.

• February 13, 2025: Following the completion of the 2024-25 NFL season, the LA Chargers have opened at (+1000) to win the AFC and (+2800) to win the Super Bowl during the 2025-26 season.

In-person gambling sites and locations

There is no shortage of in-person casinos across California, as there are currently over 60. Of course, none of these allow for sports betting, but with this sheer number of casinos, it is easy to see how the Tribal leaders have a lot of say and influence on the state's gambling laws and regulations.

Each of these casinos must abide by a set of rules and regulations, which means gamblers must be at least 18 years of age.

TOP 5 largest retail casinos in California:

1. Yaamava' Resort Casino, 777 San Manuel Blvd S, Highland

2. Pechanga Resort & Casino, 45000 Pechanga Pkwy, Temecula

3. Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, 49500 Seminole Dr, Cabazon

4. Thunder Valley Casino, 1200 Athens Ave, Lincoln

5. Graton Casino & Resort, 288 Golf Course Dr W, Rohnert Park

How a Napa Casino could blend fine wine and high-stakes betting

California’s Napa Valley and Sonoma County are synonymous with world-class wine, drawing all sorts of tourists who seek luxury experiences. But could these regions transform into the next casino hotspots, combining fine wine with high-stakes gambling?

Currently, California’s strict gambling laws limit casinos to Native American tribal lands, keeping gaming hubs like Cache Creek Casino and Graton Resort & Casino separate from Napa’s lush vineyards. However, as casino tourism grows nationwide and makes surrounding states a lot of money in tax revenue, could lawmakers and investors see an opportunity in wine country?

A luxury casino resort nestled among vineyards could appeal to tourists and corporate retreats, offering location-themed slot machines, vineyard-view poker rooms, and a well-designed sportsbook to maybe watch and bet on the Giants game. The combination of gourmet dining, spa retreats, and elite gaming could create a Monte Carlo-style experience in Northern California.

However, opposition from local communities, farmers, and environmental groups could prevent such a project. Many fear that large-scale casino tourism could disrupt the well-established culture of the area and shift the focus away from the wine and landscapes. With sports betting bills continuing to fall short in legislation, this is a topic that will have to be re-explored when the market is clearer.

Sports betting in neighboring states

In terms of surrounding states, CA residents do not need to go far in order to find legalized gambling states. Of course, California is right next to Nevada, which many would consider the gambling capital of the U.S., but aside from NV, residents can also find legalized gambling in both Oregon and Arizona.

The big-name mobile apps that have been knocking on CA's door can be tested and found within these surrounding states, as long as the residents are within their borders.

Venice Beach muscle-off: Prop betting on beachfront flex-offs

Venice Beach’s famed Muscle Beach outdoor gym feels and looks like a live-action showdown of strength, sweat, and showmanship. But what if this iconic scene of California fitness culture took a leap into the betting world? Tourists and locals alike could be wagering on a novelty prop betting market on who dominates in categories like “most pull-ups in 60 seconds,” “most shredded physique,” or “most weight on the bench press.” 

With structured mini-competitions and influencer-hosted events already popping up at Muscle Beach, the infrastructure for judging exists, along with plenty of people who would be able to set lines for these events. Integrating live streams or QR-coded betting kiosks could make this market fully interactive. If California ever legalizes sports betting, these novelty props on Venice’s beachfront muscle-offs could flex their way into a surprisingly profitable micro-market.

Even capturing 0.01% of the state’s massive betting handle could generate tens of thousands in seasonal wagers while spotlighting one of the many things that make California unique. In a state known for fitness, fame, and fortune, a market based around “Alpha” competitions could be the idea needed to springboard a sports betting bill.

What’s next for CA betting apps?

Given how the sports betting legalization process has gone in California to this point, I can’t say optimism is the best word to describe the future of sports betting in the state. The state and Tribal leaders still seem far apart on any agreement or bill, and it’s clear that voters are still unsure if they would support anything placed on the ballot.

Many reports say 2025 is the next time this topic could gain serious attention, but similar claims have not led to anything in the past.

Potential sports betting revenue impact on California's economy

Since sports betting is illegal in California, there is no revenue to report. However, In 2022, analysts at Eilers and Krejcik Gaming projected that CA would produce over $3.1 billion in sports betting revenue.

New York is the fourth largest state in the U.S., and in November alone, it amassed over $2 billion in handle. With numbers like that, it is no surprise that operators like DraftKings want to be able to operate in California.

While New York is currently the largest state in terms of population to have legal sports betting, California has close to 20 million more residents. With that, it’s even fair to say that if they legalized sports betting, they could outperform the projections that Eilers and Krejcik Gaming made, especially if the state can work out a deal to appease both the gaming tribes and big-name operators, which is easier said than done.

From dust to dollars: The profit potential of Burning Man betting markets

While Burning Man is rooted in anti-commercial ideals, the festival’s popularity presents a unique opportunity for California’s future betting economy. If novelty wagering were legalized and accepted at the same time as traditional sports betting, festival-based prop bets, such as which installation burns first or which theme camp draws the biggest crowd, could attract a ton of interest from attendees and online bettors.

With over 70,000 annual participants, even moderate engagement in these novelty bets could generate millions in additional wagers. If just 0.5% of California’s estimated $3 billion betting handle came from such festival wagers, that’s $15 million in additional bets, which in turn would lead to even more potential tax revenue. California could capitalize on its cultural cache by launching these markets alongside traditional sports betting if and when legislation is passed.