1. Top Online Betting Sites
2. Online Betting Sites Sportsbook
3. Online Betting Sites Reviews
4. Online Betting Sites California History
5. Online Betting Sites California History

There are a variety of options for California online horse betting fans. California has unrestricted access to most of the top online horse race betting sites in the US. The only major service that Californians are blocked from joining is AmWager.

While CA does not offer legal online casinos, poker sites, or sports betting sites, it is completely legal to bet on the horses online. The other betting-related ways to legally win money online is through sweepstakes sites or Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platforms.

The very best sports betting sites in California will offer a live chat feature. This allows you to speak directly with a customer service representative over text. It’s without a doubt the easiest and most convenient way to seek help while betting online in California. If the sites you’re looking at only offer an email support option, they are.

1. If you’re attempting to pinpoint all of the greatest online sports betting sites going at the moment, then you should take the time to explore SportsBetting.ag right now. This website successfully accommodates people who are in the mood to place bets on basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, golf, and hockey.
2. Online racebooks are just another form of California gambling website that has paved the way for bets to be placed from just about anywhere. There isn't even a need to go down to the track that day.
3. Both online gambling and sports betting are illegal in California. The state explicitly mentions this, so any attempts to do so may be punished. However, the state will not punish players for accessing and betting on out-of-state or offshore betting sites so players are free to access these sites at their own discretion.

Below, we’ll go over each of the major online horse race betting sites as well as some ins and outs of betting on horses in the State of California.

List Of Online Horse Betting Sites In California

BetAmerica

BetAmerica is one of the most popular horse betting sites in the US. They offer a huge number of events and live streams that only TVG can really compete with.

When you visit the site, you’ll notice that BetAmerica also offers an online sportsbook and casino. However, people located in California can only legally play on the horse racing side of the site.

Unfortunately, all of BetAmerica’s bonus offers are reserved for casino games or sports betting, not horse racing. If you’re new to the racebook and simply looking for the bonuses, you might want to circle back to BetAmerica once you’ve become more experienced.

With that being said, BetAmerica is an approachable option for newcomers. Their top-rated status is earned by an overall level quality that all levels of horse bettors can appreciate.

DRF Bets

Daily Racing Form (DRF) can trace its history back to late-1800s Chicago as a horse racing publication. Since then, it’s remained one of the most trusted resources for stats, picks, and predictions.

In 2011, the brand launched DRF Bets, a highly regarded sportsbook out of New York City that offers a great selection of races and live streams.

The best part about this option is the combination of expert guidance alongside pari-mutuel betting. Even the most avid horse racing bettors can’t be at every track. That’s where the insights from DRF comes in. And you can take that info directly to the racebook side of the site.

NYRA Bets

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) operates three major racetracks owned by the State of New York: Aqueduct, Saratoga, and Belmont Park.

Even if you’re new to horse racing and live in California, you’ve likely heard of Belmont Park. That’s because it’s the site of the Belmont Stakes, one of the Triple Crown horse racing events that includes the Kentucky Derby.

NYRA Bets offers live streams to these tracks as well as many that span the country. This highly-respected horse betting platform offers all types of picks as well as a welcome bonus that doubles your first deposit up to $200.

However, DRF Bet’s promo is the same but slightly better, where you get up to $250.

TVG

TVG is likely the most popular horse betting platform in the United States. They offer the largest number of live streams and racing events. And while the odds and winning potential are comparable across all the sites, having more races to choose from gives TVG the advantages of winning potential as well.

TVG has the distinction of being the first legal online horse race betting platform. Launched in 1999, it’s maintained its popularity by consistently innovating in terms of payment processing and ongoing bettor rewards.

Their largest competitor is BetAmerica, but with TVG offering a risk-free bet welcome bonus, TVG may have set themselves apart as the no-brainer choice between the two.

TwinSpires

A consistently top three choice among the online horse betting options in California, TwinSpires offers a large selection of races and live streams that compete well with BetAmerica and TVG.

But what really sets TwinSpires apart are the promos. They offer innovative bonuses, insurances, jackpot tournaments, and other offers that put most of their competition to shame. TwinSpires is hands down the online racebook to choose if you prefer the promotional offers over the standard bets.

But the promotions aren’t compensating for their lack of picks. While BetAmerica and TVG still have a slightly more robust selection, TwinSpires has the winning potential you could easily put up against its two biggest competitors.

What Types Of Bonuses Are Available For Online Horse Betting In California?

The bonuses offered by the online horse racing sites are similar to what’s offered by online casinos and sportsbooks. Here’s an overview of the most common:

Deposit Matching Bonus

The welcome bonus at both DRF Bets and NYRA Bets is the deposit matching bonus. They’ll match your first deposit by a certain percentage up to a maximum amount. For example, if you deposit $250 at DRF Bets, you’re rewarded an additional $250 once you meet the betting requirements.

Risk-Free Bet

A risk-free bet requires that you pay upfront for a pick. Then you either win the bet and keep your winnings or lose and receive your bet back as a wagering credit. TVG’s welcome bonus is a risk-free bet on your first single horse pick up to $200.

Free Bet

A free bet is different from a risk-free bet because you don’t have to put up any of your own money. Instead, you take the free money and use it to bet.

Insurance Offers

Insurance promotions are most similar to a risk-free bet, and there’s a lot of carryover. For example, the TwinSpires “Photo-Winsurance Promotion” refunds a percentage of a lost bet if the race ends with a photo finish.

Cashback And Reward Points

Cashback is different from rewards points only because it saves you a step. With cashback, you’re given free wagers that are automatically credited to your account as a reward for betting on the site. Rewards points are the same, except that you have to cash them in to receive rewards that include free wagers.

Terms and Conditions To Be Aware Of

Be sure to carefully read the terms and conditions for each promotion and bonus offer. For every one, you’ll need to bet a certain amount to qualify as well as take advantage within a certain timeframe.

List Of Horse Race Tracks In California

Santa Anita Park

The oldest operating race track in California is Santa Anita Park, which routinely hosts the Breeders’ Cup World Championship. In fact, it set the attendance record in 2016, when the two days of racing brought in $159,991,803 in bets, $20,694,235 of which was on-track.

Other major races at Santa Anita Park include the Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Handicap. However, folks in California do not have to travel to Arcadia, in Los Angeles County to bet on these races. On top of the off-track locations in the state, you can also bet on in-state races online.

Del Mar Racetrack

Located up the coast from San Diego, the Del Mar Racetrack is objectively gorgeous. Many have stated it’s the most stunning horse racing track in the US and possibly the world, located a literal stone’s throw from the beach.

But Del Mar Racetrack is loved for reasons beyond the tourism appeal (and the fact that it was founded in part by Bing Crosby). This track hosts competitions all year round, some of which are significant in world horse racing. It also absorbed several of the races when the Hollywood Park Racetrack closed down in December of 2013.

Golden Gate Fields

Another racetrack right by the ocean, Golden Gate Fields is Northern California’s only major horse racing track since 2008. But this Bay Area staple debuted in 1941 and has hosted races on a near-daily basis ever since.

The most interesting aspect of Gold Gate Fields is the Tapeta synthetic track which is designed to host races in the rain. This type of track is rare, found in only six tracks worldwide, two of which are in the US.

While the key benefit is its resistance to inclement weather, Tapeta track is also designed to be “as safe as possible for the Thoroughbred racehorse.”

Los Alamitos Race Course

While Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County hosts both thoroughbred and quarter horse races, it’s best known for the latter. Having hosted four quarter horse races with a purse over $1 million, it’s the most lucrative racing venue in that category in the United States.

The most notable race held at Los Alamitos Race Course is the Champions of Champions, a quarter horse event that’s taken place here since 1972. If you’re curious about the past winners, record-breakers, and other accolades, Wikipedia has a helpful chart and list with everything you could want to know.

Is Online Horse Race Betting Legal In California?

Yes, betting on horses online is legal in the State of California. You do not have to be at the specific track or even at an off-track betting (OTB) facility to make your picks. There’s no law against betting on horses via desktop or mobile devices.

Who Regulates Horse Racing In California?

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) regulates horse racing in California. The board was founded in 1933 and regulates both the horse racing tracks as well as the pari-mutuel betting.

The Governor appoints the seven members of the CHRB. As such, they’re headquartered in the state capital of Sacramento, California.

The betting oversight of CHRB applies to both on-track and off-track facilities that span the entire state from Del Mar to Golden Gate.

How Safe Is Online Horse Betting In California?

California allows for legal horse race betting on-track, off-track, and online. That means that betting at any licensed American racebook is completely safe as long as you don’t gamble more than you can afford to lose.

If you were to live in a state that outlawed online horse race betting, that’s when you could run into some trouble. While local law enforcement won’t come after you, joining an offshore and illegal betting website has inherent risks. They could be a total scam at worst. But at best, you have no real recourse if you have a dispute with the operator.

Thankfully, people located in California do not have this problem.

What Races Can You Bet On In California?

Popular Horse Racing Events In California

According to our count, there are 34 horse races in the world with a purse of a million dollars or more, and the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes in Del Mar is the only one that still takes place in California.

As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, the winner of the Pacific Classic Stakes is automatically entered in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is the fourth race after the Triple Crown that makes up the Grand Slam.

The only horses to win all four races of the Grand Slam are Whirlaway in 1941 and American Pharoah in 2015.

Important American And International Races

Most of the biggest horse racing purses in the world are awarded in the United States. However, the all-time biggest is the Dubai World Cup that takes place in March, with a purse of $12 million.

While the Kentucky Derby in Churchill Downs is the most renowned race in the US, the purse of $2,000,000 is the same as several races throughout the year in Keeneland, a track located in Lexington, Kentucky.

Other huge races include the Breeders’ Cup Classic ($5 million purse) and the Breeders’ Cup Turf ($3 million purse), both of which take place in October in Keeneland.

The Pegasus World Cup of Gulfstream Park in Florida boasts a $3 million purse.

Interestingly, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, the other two Triple Crown Races, offer a purse of $1.5 million and $1 million respectively. Those barely make it into the top 20 biggest purses in the industry.

California bettors can place bets on all of these national and international horse racing events at California’s online horse race betting platforms.

Do Racetracks In California Offer Casino Games?

No, racetracks in California do not offer casino games. They simply take pari-mutuel horse racing bets.

In California, casino games are largely illegal. You can play blackjack and other casino card games as well as multiplayer poker at cardrooms in the state. But you’ll need to travel to neighboring states like Nevada to play roulette, video poker, or slots.

However, off-track betting (OTB) facilities can double as cardrooms in California.

Does California Have OTB Facilities?

Yes, California has off-track betting (OTB) facilities. Both the OTB facilities and racetracks are regulated by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).

You won’t find a huge number of OTB locations in the state, but there’s a decent chance there’s one nearby. Here’s a list of the locations:

California Online Horse Race Betting FAQ

No. As long as you’re in a state with access to the horse race betting site, you have full access. That means you can open an account, deposit, bet, and withdraw your winnings from any unrestricted state.

However, you might want to check with the specific betting platform before betting from a different state. In some cases, state regulations make the operator take out a higher percentage for taxes, which can affect how much of the winnings you receive.

No. California does not have any racinos at this point in time, which are a combination racetrack and casino.

Racinos are generally limited to the East Coast of the United States, with Florida being a particular hotspot with over 20 venues.

However, New Mexico does have a few racinos, which may be relatively close depending on where you’re located in California.

Yes. TVG is one of the most popular online horse race betting platforms in California. The reason is their extensive race selection, streaming partnerships, and brand recognition.

They also run the biggest horse race in the state: the TVG Breeders’ Cup Challenge at Del Mar Racetrack. But you can join TVG from anywhere within the state.

Yes. BetAmerica is likely the second most popular horse race betting site after TVG. As major competitors, the two online racebooks have comparable offerings, and it’s tough to recommend one over the other.

Like TVG, you can join BetAmerica from anywhere in the State of California as long as you’re at least 18 years old.

You can bet on Triple Crown races in California at any of the major horse race betting platforms. You can also visit the tracks to place a bet remotely or visit an OTB facility.

Betting on the Triple Crown races goes beyond the popularity of the pastime. The online horse racing platforms always run their best promotions of the year surrounding the races.

California’s age requirement for online horse race betting is 18 and up.

For attending the races in person, all ages are welcome. Adults aged 18 and up can place bets. However, those aged 17 and under need to be accompanied by an adult. You also can’t access the bar areas or buy drinks if you’re under 21.

You can visit the OTB facilities or racetracks to watch horse races live in California. But the easiest way is to simply go to the online horse race betting service and watch the live streams through the site.

Both TVG and BetAmerica have a massive number of streaming partnerships that broadcast events directly through the site. You usually don’t even need to place a bet to watch the games, but membership is required.

If you’ve been trying to identify the best California sports betting sites, your search is over.

Here, we’ve established the leading online sportsbooks for players from the Golden State.

Compiling our rankings for the top CA betting sites is a team effort. And we have a great team. We’re all passionate sports bettors with lots of experience of gambling online. We know exactly what to look for when trying to find the best sports betting sites, and you can benefit from that.

Betting with the best online sportsbooks and bookmakers is a great experience. The same cannot be said for some other sports gambling sites on the web. So, if you want to get the best from your online sports betting, our list of the best sports betting sites for California is exactly what you need.

Pick one or more of these sites for placing your real money sports wagers and you can’t go wrong. They’re all top quality. Importantly, they’re also very reputable and completely trustworthy.

Our Method For Ranking CA Sports Betting Sites

We’ve developed an advanced system for ranking online sports betting sites that allows us to recommend only those sites that meet the highest of standard.

We evaluate numerous gambling sites in a number of key areas, and the sites that receive the highest marks across the board are ranked accordingly.

This is something of a simplified explanation, but that’s it in a nutshell. Here are a few more details on some of the things we look at and why.

As you might imagine, many gambling sites are specifically designed for residents of certain countries. When we are looking for the best California betting sites, we seek out operators that actively cater for people in the United States.

This isn’t as much of a no-brainer as it may seem, because there are online gamblers in other English-speaking areas like Great Britain and Australia. While it’s true that you can understand the content perfectly, the website’s sports betting opportunities might not be consistent with your preferences.

Punters in these countries are primarily interested in gaming options that are popular there. And the preferences for Americans are quite different in some instances.

There’s also the matter of currency. Exchange rates are different, so a player in California should wager on a site that primarily uses the US dollar.

Keep in mind, also, that there are various service providers that facilitate financial transactions over the internet but don’t offer banking methods for certain locations.

We take all of this into account when we develop our ratings. It’ll be easy for Americans to deposit funds at any of the best California sports betting sites that we have identified.

There are multiple different options, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. They may also accept gift cards and ACH transfers.

It’s just as easy to withdraw your winnings, and most methods provide fast turnarounds on withdrawal requests. If you use Bitcoin, the transfers are usually instant.

You might be wondering if there’s anything that stops an online sportsbook from simply disappearing with your money. This is a legitimate concern, because a site could easily engage in sketchy practices.

But when you stick to the sports betting websites on our list of preferred operators, you won’t have to worry.

We stay up to date on the requirements for online gambling licenses around the world. This is one of the most important factors we consider to determine the legitimacy of a given site.

Sometimes you need to discuss an issue or concern with a representative of your chosen sports gambling site. This is another of the great strengths of the online bookmaker and sportsbooks that we recommend. They all provide good customer service

You can speak with a representative by phone. Some are even available to take calls around the clock. Live chat is another great option, along with email correspondence. These sites respond to inquiries very quickly and focus on timely and efficient resolutions.

Because it’s costly to obtain a reputable online gambling license, the people behind betting sites have to think in terms of long-term profit. Of course, you don’t start a business because you expect to hang around for a year or two then shut down.

As we all know, a lot of businesses with passionate, motivated owners simply fall by the wayside every day. The online sports betting industry is no different in this regard.

Having the right license is a huge factor for us to consider, but the test of time may be even more important. When an online sportsbook has been holding its ground for an extended period of time, you know that they’re likely doing everything they can to retain their customer base and build on it.

An established reputation is also a key indicator. When people share their opinions about a site, you can come away with a profound impression.

There are message boards designed to serve the online gambling community, and our people visit them regularly to keep up. We also have several professional connections within the industry, and all relevant information is shared within our network.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you were given hundreds or thousands of dollars after walking into a brick and mortar casino for the first time? That sounds like a far-fetched notion, but it’s routinely done at the CA betting sites we listed above.

After receiving your sign-up bonus, the extra incentives don’t disappear. The best sports betting sites continue to post promotions that center around upcoming tournaments or events.

You don’t have to limit yourself to a single bonus as a new player. If you make deposits at more than one online sportsbook, you can rake in several bonuses.

Online Betting Options for Different Sports

When you make a deposit and place your bets at one of the top California betting websites, you’ll have a wide range of sporting events and wagering options. Though it’s a virtual environment, the offerings are pretty much identical to the general scheme you would find at any Las Vegas sportsbook.

Of course, some people have never ventured into a physical sportsbook. If you’re one of them, you wouldn’t know what to expect, so we will provide the rundown.

In the US, the sport that takes the most betting action is American football. Nearly 40% of people polled named football as their favorite sport, with basketball as a distant second.

Most people make their football bets against the point spread, but this is not your only option. You could bet on the point spread, the moneyline, or totals.

At the best California sports betting sites there are also teaser bets, in-game wagering, and futures bets. Proposition bets may be available over the course of the season.

Typically, you’re able to wager on all the NFL games, and the majority of NCCAA football games.

Once you review and understand the different types of wagers, you have a solid foundation, you’ll notice that the same options are offered for other sports with some variations.

College and NBA basketball bets are identical to football with just a small tweak. In basketball, there are 6-point, 6 ½-point, and 7 ½-point teasers available. The fewer points you take, the higher the potential payout.

In basketball, the teaser points you can choose from are not that high, typically between 4 and 6 points.

There are some similarities and a few differences when it comes to Major League Baseball betting conventions. Straight bets on sides are traditionally made on the moneyline, but when there’s a very big favorite, you’re looking at a negative value.

One way to get around this would be to play a parlay with multiple teams that are very likely to win their games. Even if all of the teams are laying big minus money individually, when you combine multiple betting interests, the payout odds become much more palatable.

While there’s no betting against a variable spread that is determined based on the matchup, there’s a run line option. This will always be set at 1 ½ runs, so the favorite must win by at least two runs, and a bet on the underdog would be a winner even if they lose by a single run.

As for the anticipated payout on a winning run line bet, sportsbooks set a moneyline that varies depending on the perceived strength of each side.

Basketball and football are pretty much right in line when it comes to betting structures, and the same could be said for baseball and hockey.

NHL options mirror the Major League Baseball wagers that are available. This would include the run line, but for hockey it is called the “puck line.”

The best California sports betting sites post lines on a number of different sports outside of the “big four.” NASCAR fans are as passionate as it gets, and online sportsbooks post odds on each driver to win the respective events. You can also place wagers on major IndyCar races.

Odds on the winner of major tennis tournaments and golf tournaments are posted, along with boxing, MMA fights, and soccer. It’s interesting to note that any site that calls the sport “soccer” rather than “football” is almost certainly designed for the US market.

State-Regulated Sports Betting in California

Unless you’ve been living under the proverbial rock, you should be aware of the fact that a Supreme Court ruling on sports gambling was handed down in 2018 that had a profound affect on gambling laws in the United States.

To refresh your memory, it started with the state of New Jersey legalizing the practice in 2012. The voters decided they were in favor of sportsbooks in the existing casinos in Atlantic City along with the state-licensed horse racing tracks.

The major sports leagues and the NCAA have always been adamantly against sports gambling, because they are concerned about game fixing and point shaving.

These entities filed a lawsuit to prevent sportsbooks from opening in the Garden State. As a premise, they used the federal law that prohibits wagering on sporting events that was enacted in 1992. They were victorious in the lower courts, and the state’s attorneys filed appeals.

That’s how the matter made its way to the highest court in the land, where the Supreme Court found it to be unconstitutional.

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They specifically cited the 10^th Amendment that ensures the rights for states to make their own laws as long as there is no constitutional infringement.

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Since New Jersey already had a law spelling out the regulatory parameters, they had sportsbooks up and running shortly after the landmark ruling. Several other states followed their lead, but the vast majority of them have not taken advantage of this opportunity.

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California is not at the top of the “next up” list for legalization of brick and mortar sportsbooks, but many legislators are supportive. There’s going to be a sports gaming referendum on the ballot in 2020, so voters will decide if their state should move forward.

Online Betting Sites California History

If they pass the referendum, there will be another time-consuming phase that will delay the opening of sportsbooks. All the regulatory details must be hashed out and agreed upon by the legislature and the governor, so Californians will not be visiting local sportsbooks any time soon.

There’s a lot to digest on this page, so we will leave you with some summarized takeaways. We conducted in-depth research to evaluate all of the contenders while evaluating the best California sports betting sites. Our list has been carefully prepared based on relevant data.

You can trust the sites on every level, and they go the extra mile to provide world-class customer service. All of these online sportsbooks are specifically designed to suit the needs of American players.

Online Betting Sites California History

States have the right to regulate and license sports betting facilities, and California is slowly moving in that direction, but it will take a while. And in the meantime, our approved sites will always be available to take your real money sports wagers.