California is the biggest prize left on the board when it comes to states that have yet to legalize sports betting, but that day won't come to pass until the Golden State's powerful tribal lobby decides it's time.
With apologies to Texas, California is the biggest prize left on the board when it comes to states that have yet to legalize sports betting. Everything may be bigger in Texas, but California boasts the largest population of any state in the Union and a multitude of pro and collegiate teams that attract a rabid local following.
There have been several attempts to gain voter support for sports betting, all of which have failed. Only about one in six voters supported a well-financed commercial ballot initiative in 2022, one that failed to garner the backing of the state's Indian tribes. And when the tribes decide to band together to oppose something gambling-related in California, it's effectively dead on arrival.
Since that humbling experience at the ballot box, some commercial operators have tried to mend fences with the tribes in hopes of one day getting a piece of the Golden State's sports betting bonanza. But make no mistake about it: The legalization of sports betting will not happen in California until the state's powerful tribal lobby decides it's time, and it's anyone's guess as to when that day might come.
A group consisting of several California tribes introduces an initiative that would legalize sports betting on Indian lands. The measure ultimately makes the ballot in November 2022 but would go on to fail.
Commercial bigwigs file sports betting initiative
August 31, 2021
Major national entities like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM join forces to file a ballot initiative, Proposition 27, that would find commercial operators and Indian tribes teaming up to bring retail and mobile sports betting to California. The vast majority of tribes would quickly announce their opposition to this effort, which would easily qualify for the November 2022 ballot.
Card rooms file suit to stop tribal sports betting initiative
August 13, 2022
A group of California card rooms files a lawsuit to keep the tribal-backed initiative off the ballot. The lawsuit would ultimately prove unsuccessful.
Sports betting initiatives trounced at ballot box
November 8, 2022
The tribal initiative fails by a margin of roughly two to one, while the commercial initiative fails by a margin of five to one. The tribes consider this maintenance of the status quo a success despite spending a good chunk of the $500 million-plus that went into the campaign on either side. An influential tribal gaming leader declares that the commercial operators would be "completely stupid" to "underestimate the tribes again" if they want to revisit the legalization of sports betting in California.
Sports Betting Alliance joins tribes in opposing sweepstakes casinos
October 23, 2024
The Sports Betting Alliance, which is comprised of the same commercial operators who got smoked at the ballot box in 2022, voices its support for California tribes in opposing the presence of sweepstakes operators in the state.
FAQs
Is sports betting legal in California?
No. Despite multiple attempts at the ballot box, sports betting is not legal in California. All roads run through the state's many Indian tribes, with 2026 and 2028 emerging as dates when they might push to have sports wagering legalized in the nation's most populous state.
Who can bet on sports in California?
Since sports betting is not yet legal in California, nobody can legally bet on sports in the state. To legally wager, Californians must travel to neighboring states of Arizona, Oregon, and, of course, Nevada.
Who regulates sports betting in California?
If and when sports betting is legalized in California, it is widely expected that it will be regulated by the California Gambling Control Commission, which currently helps approve tribal gaming compacts and applicants in the state.
What can I bet on in California?
California has dozens of tribal casinos and card rooms at which to play slots and table games, but wagering on sports other than horse racing has yet to gain the proper consensus of supporters to become legal.
What can't I bet on in California?
You can't legally bet on sports in California, be it online or in person.
Is DFS legal in California?
Not exactly. Daily fantasy sports contests are unregulated in California, and thus exist in a gray area. That hasn't stopped several operators from offering DFS contests in the state.
Is it legal to bet on horse racing in California?
Yes! California has a rich tradition of hosting live horse racing that dates back to the 1930s. Three tracks – Del Mar, Los Alamitos, and Santa Anita – host top-flight live racing, and horseplayers can also bet online via account-wagering platforms or on simulcast races at a handful of off-track betting parlors located throughout the state.
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