With close to 40 million people, California is one of the most populated states in the US and a hotbed for sports betting. But even with such a huge demand, like most states, the state laws in California are against online sports betting within its boundaries.
But hope is not lost. As a California resident, you have to get creative and take advantage of offshore sports betting sites operating in the region but licensed outside the state. In this guide, we shall take you through the nitty-gritties of the underlying sports betting laws in California and recommend some of the offshore sports betting sites you can have a blast on.
[infobox color=”#aacbff” textcolor=”#000000″ icon=”info-circle”] Note: the sports betting las in California zero in on payment options. They are not clear on the legality of your participation on any online betting platform but betting sites thrive through loopholes in the law. [/infobox]Contents
Is Sports Betting Legal in California?
For the most part, it is legal. But here are the details surrounding this verdict.
Generally, sports betting in regulated online betting platforms in California is not legal according to the laws of the state. However, the laws regulating sports betting platforms licensed in offshore locations are in a gray area. It is in this gray area that online sports betting enthusiasts like you play and thrive in.
Though many states have in the recent past added clauses that impose tax revenue on these platforms, California is yet to adopt these laws. Some sports betting enthusiasts believe that the Federal government could exercise its authority and override the legislation in the state while others believe they wouldn’t dare overstep.
At the beginning of 2020, legislators in California met to deliberate with sports betting industry experts. The goal was to chart a course of action on proper sports betting laws in the state. In the meeting, researchers pointed out that the online sports betting industry (which includes mobile sports betting) rakes in a revenue of $2.5 billion annually, if not more, in California alone. Unfortunately, the state cannot have a piece of this pie until proper legislation is made. Currently, these offshore sports betting platforms are enjoying these revenues.
With that said, you are probably wondering whether you’ll fall on the wrong side of the law if you indulged your sports betting fantasies. The current state of things is that online sports betting platforms do not operate in California since they are illegal, according to the state las. However, there is no clear law that stops them from serving California residents from offshore locations. And so far, there has not been a single case of individuals being prosecuted for sports betting.
So whether it’s legal yet or not, you shouldn’t worry much because at the end of the day, with the right sports betting platform, you can bet away. [/infobox]
How to stay safe in online sports betting sites in California
Sports betting in California is generally safe, even without formal regulations. There have been minimal reports of players having payment issues (and even these were solved promptly by the respective platforms). However, there are steps you can take to ensure your sports betting experience is all fun and games.
[infobox color=”#aacbff” textcolor=”#000000″ icon=”info-circle”] Note: even the best sports betting platforms are not foolproof. You need to be vigilant and ensure your safety as well. [/infobox]- You should play through reputable platforms – this is an easy way to stay safe in the online sports betting streets. Find the time to research the betting platform and ensure they have safe payment options available in your location as well as a friendly and supportive customer support staff. This way, even if you encounter problems, you’ll find fast relief.
- Track your bets – there are reasons why many US states are against sports betting. One of the reasons is that it has the potential to be addictive and suck your bank account dry. But this doesn’t have to be your truth. To help prevent this, sports betting platforms have a legal responsibility to you. They keep track of your bets and flag you if they suspect something is amiss. Expectedly, they can only do so much. You should only wager money that you can afford to lose. Track your expenditure on the platform, and if you find out you are spending a lot, take a time out for a couple of months.
- Bet on sports that you understand – the easiest way to lose money in a sports betting platform is to wager on a sport you know nothing about—your odds of winning increase significantly when you understand the game.
- Always keep your betting account details private – we cannot stress this enough. Like your banking details, your betting account information should be private as well. Why? Because real money is on the line. You will notice that no sports betting account operating in California will ask you for your banking information.
- Be willing to change betting platforms – if you adhere to the safety rules above, there’s a good chance you’ll not experience problems on your platform. But in case you do, you should be flexible enough to abandon ship and start life on another. As you will see later in this piece, there are numerous sports betting platforms you can start on.
How we ranked the best sports betting platforms in California
To give you an easier time choosing the best sports betting platform, we came up with a list of the best sports betting sites operating in California. Below is a criterion we followed in choosing these platforms.
- Security and Trustworthiness – we considered industry reputation, licensing, how long they have been operational, news and legit customer comments and issues
- Payment methods – we considered variation, speed, limits, reliability, and fees
- User interface – general layout and the graphical experience
- Sports selections
- Promotions and bonuses
- Customer support
Top Sports Betting Platforms in California 2020
This is a popular online sports betting company operated by Bodog. And because they are affiliated with Bodog, a reputable company in the industry, it is recognized and trusted. The beauty of working with Bovada is that they run on the same software as Bodog. In addition to sports betting, you can also place bets on online casino games if you are looking for a break from football bets.
Betting options
If you are into American sports, Bovada has got you covered. It has competitive odds and has a wide range of sports events you can bet on. These sports include MLB, NBA, NHL, and the NFL. The major events covered on the platform include March Madness, Super Bowl, or the Kentucky Derby.
In addition to the above, you can place bets on volleyball, UFC, MMA, NCAA Football, Cycling, Badminton, Rugby, Darts, Olympics, and more.
Bovada as the best Moneyline, over/underlines, and point spread that you could wish for. But on the other hand, it has prop odds and entertaining future bests that help to keep the art of betting entertaining. And so that you make calculated bets, Bovada avails Match previews through an exclusive database. From the database, you get access to free game statistics, some sports trends, and other important analyses that will help you make an informed bet.
And if you are crazy about horses, then you can place a wager on the Breeders’ Cup of the Kentucky Derby. You will not need a separate account for sports betting and dipping your toes into the online game waters.
Live betting
Bovada goes the extra mile to try and impress all its bettors. For instance, it has live betting features. The odds associated with this feature are continually changing based on the game plan and the best sports bettors pace. You can place a bet on every play, every possession, and every at-bat. For instance, if you are a baseball fan, you could place a wager on the outcome of every at-bat and whether the player will get a hit, a strikeout, or a walk. If you are into football, you can place bets on whether the next touch will be an incomplete or complete pass, a turnover, or a rush. In addition to this, Bovada has live prop bets, which keeps things interesting.
When engaging in live betting, the minimum bet you can place is $1, and the maximum is $100. And if you are new, don’t worry, placing the bets is easy since you only need to click on the LIVE icon to launch the live bets for the game you are watching.
Bovada on the Go
Bovada has a user-friendly mobile betting platform. You don’t need to download it. Instead, you use it on your phone’s browser. The website is similar to the desktop site and has all features and capabilities. All sports and events are also available on the mobile platform.
Payments
Online sports betting payments is tricky business in the UK. However, Bovada has found a way around the restrictions. You can deposit and withdraw money through American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Bitcoin. However, you can only use the US Dollar to bet. But this isn’t a problem since the site caters to betters in the US, Mexico, and Brazil.
Promotions and Bonuses
Bovada offers bettors with numerous bonuses and promotions to them interested. When you create an account, you get a 50% deposit bonus capped at $250. And if you use Bitcoin to make your first deposit, you get extra bonuses as well (75% deposit bonus capped at $750). But the thing about these bonuses is that you will have to roll them over before you can withdraw. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.
Pros:
- The deposits are quick and easy
- It offers exclusive Bitcoin bonuses
- You enjoy sports betting, casino, and poker all on one platform
Cons:
- It is only available to US players
- The odds are not always available early
- There is limited coverage of sports outside North America
This is not a rookie sports betting platform. It has been serving US sports bettors for more than two decades. During this time, it has positioned itself as an aggressive betting platform, but one that can be trusted, and that is fair and fun.
Available sports
On BetOnline, you can place bets on a range of North American sports and leagues, including the NBS, NFL, MLB, and the NHL. You can also bet on boxing, the MMA, cricket, rugby, Aussie Rules, Soccer, and tennis.
To make things even more interesting, BetOnline has live betting options as well. The live betting portal has a simple design and is easy to navigate. Finding the game you love and placing a bet while you follow the live-action is easy. BetOnline provides live betting odds to almost all events.
Betting on the go
And if you ever find yourself on the road and need to place bets, you can place bets through your mobile phone. Simply visit the mobile site, log in, and do your thing, the platform design is similar to what desktop sites offer.
Payment options
BetOnline has a range of payment options. You can choose between MasterCard, Visa, Dash, Ethereum, Bitcoin, Person-to-Person, Neteller, Skrill, bank wire, and a cashier’s check. With most of these options, the minimum deposit requirement is between $10 and $50.
Bonuses
If you deposit cash through Bitcoin, you get a Crypto bonus. The bonus is usually a 5% bitcoin value above the prevailing Bitcoin value. Lastly, if you refer a friend, you get to earn $200 of free play for each referral.
Pros:
- Early lines
- It has competitive bonuses
- It has a readily available customer support
Cons:
- There is a deposit limit for new players
- Some bonuses aren’t available when you use e-wallets
- The withdrawal speed is limited
Intertops is one of the legends in the sports betting industry. It has paved the way for many sport betting platforms over the years and even set the pace. You can think of them like Beyonce with her melodious voice or David Beckham with his stunning hair. The idea of making the platform was made in 1983, but it only went mainstream in 1996 (when the internet started gaining traction). To date, Intertops is still providing exemplary betting service and experience.
Sports you can bet on
Intertops has more than 4000 wagers on a daily basis available to bettors around the world, including the US. These bets are spread across different sports, including Soccer, tennis, football, hockey, and baseball. And aside from sports betting, you can also place bets on politics, and the stock market. Heck, you can even bet on whether snow will fall on Christmas day.
And to make things a little easier, the platforms labels the hot bets of the day’ Top Bet’. This directs you to some of the great matches where you stand to win a lot of money.
Live betting
If you think ordinary betting is great, how about live betting? Intertops has clearly spent a lot of time creating a one of a kind interface. With their live betting platform, you get to wager on leagues like the NFL ad markets lie Soccer. Every event has a lot of betting options.
Betting on the go
The betting platform is available on the smartphone screen. It is similar to the desktop site in terms of design and features but optimized for smaller screens.
Payment
You can deposit and withdraw cash through a bunch of options, including Bitcoin, Skrill, Neteller, MasterCard, and Visa.
Bonuses and Promotions
You get a 100% match bonus on your deposit capped at $500. The need to roll over the deposit and the bonus six times before you can withdraw the wins.
If you ever run into problems on the platform, you can contact customer support through Skype, telephone, live chat, or email.
Pros:
- It supports multiple languages
- It is available in the US
- The customer support is great
Cons:
- It has high requirements for the bonus
- It doesn’t have live streaming
- It doesn’t have a cash-out option
MyBookie was launched in 2014. Though some may consider it as the new kid on the block, it has made some major ripples in the industry courtesy of its experienced management. In a short time, it has been operational; it has warmed the hearts of bettors in the US.
Placing bets
Whether you like betting on individuals or teams, you will love what MyBookie has to offer. And if you are a fan of Fantasy sports, MyBookie gives an edge when you are placing bets within a game. Many of these betting options are not available on other platforms.
Payments
Making a deposit on the platform is free. However, if you choose to bet using a different currency, you will incur the exchange rate cost. Some of the payment options available include Bitcoin, eCheck, MoneyGram, and credit card.
When you win a bet, you can withdraw your wins immediately. Though the process is simple, it takes some time because of the necessary verification process.
Bonus
The minimum deposit to earn a 50% bonus on the platform is $100. If you start with less than $100, you earn a 25% bonus instead. Like most bonuses, MyBookie offers these bonuses with wagering conditions not exceeding 7x for deposits below $500. With the wagering requirements, it means you need to meet specific goals before you can withdraw wins from the bonus amount.
Live betting
This feature offers tremendous experience. With MyBookie, there is a variation, but it tends to be within the 115 range. Usually, the smaller the sport, the more the juice. With this feature, you can place play-on-play bets and not only on timeouts.
Pros:
- It offers early odds
- It has a bet calling option
- The payouts are fast
Cons:
- It doesn’t have international leagues
- It doesn’t have eWallet payment option
- It is relatively new
Most sports betting fans love Xbet because of its simple, easy to navigate platform. It was made with beginners in mind. In addition to this, Xbet has one of the fastest and hassle-free payment processes in the industry. Its limits are not the highest, but this doesn’t affect many people.
Payment
Xbet has about five payment methods, excluding wire transfer. Many US sports bettors prefer using MoneyGram, Bitcoin, eCheck, or credit cards. But unlike most sports betting companies, Xbet doesn’t cover all payment fees. If you deposit above $300, it contributes $10 and you contribute the rest. If you choose to use Bitcoin, you’ll not incur deposit fees.
Bonus
Xbet has a 100% signup bonus capped at $300. This is great, but it comes with several restrictions, including a minimum deposit of $100. And if you reload, you get a 50% bonus capped at $500. For referring a friend, you earn a 100% bonus capped at $100 for every referral.
Live betting and Mobile experience
The desktop site is available on a mobile device. This makes it easier to place bets when you are on the go. You can place wagers on live games. There are two live betting options, including premium and ultimate. They are both extensive and can be a little confusing when you start.
Pros:
- It works splendidly on mobile devices
- It has easy signup and payout processes
- It has a large variety of sports to bet on
Cons:
- It has a lot of broken links
- It is relatively new
- Its welcome bonus is small
Verdict
When California finally legalizes online sports betting, it will probably be the largest sports betting market in the US. As it is, millions already place bets through offshore betting sites. And with the regulations, the state of California can collect insane revenue tax from the industry.
But at the moment, the above are some sports betting platforms you can leverage to have fun and win some cash in the process.
FAQs
Why are many people into sports betting in California?
California is not the only state experiencing the surge in online bettors. The US betting industry has been receiving a lot of attention. Mainly because they have systems to ensure safety, they improve technology to make the betting process fun and exciting.
Is online sports betting in California allowed?
Legally it is not. However, there are many loopholes in the laws. Sports betting platforms take advantage of these loopholes and manage to operate within the law.
Can I be safe on the online sports betting site?
Yes, you can. The first step is creating an account with a reputable sports betting platform. Second, you should always have your account details safe and always log out if you log into your account from a cyber. Treat your betting account the same way you would a bank account.
What are the most important features of a sports betting platform?
It's easy. The site should be licensed, it should have a simple layout, and the payment options should be safe. Moreover, customer support should be on toes, ready to solve your problems.