Are sportsbooks legal in California? Looking behind the veil
Just as online casinos in California are restricted, the state has yet to legalize traditional online sports betting. Despite multiple ballot proposals and heated discussions in 2022 and 2024, lawmakers and tribal casino groups couldn’t reach a common ground on regulation, taxation, and control.
The main debate centers around whether sports betting should be managed by tribal casinos or opened to commercial operators. Until that’s settled, betting with real money on online sportsbooks remains off-limits in the state. This is not unique to California alone, as Texas sportsbooks are also restricted as we speak. Even traditional Florida sportsbooks that aren’t restricted, only one betting site has met their requirements so far.
However, Californians aren’t completely left out of the game. While traditional sportsbooks are banned, residents can still enjoy social betting through sweepstakes sites like Thrillzz, Sportzino, Fliff, Kickr, and Onyx, which use virtual currencies for making predictions instead of cash.
As for real sports action, in-person betting is only available for horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering. These betting options are, however, overseen and regulated by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB). So, for now, sweepstakes sportsbooks remain the legal and safe way for Californians to experience the fun of making sports predictions without leaving the comfort of their homes.
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Why are sweepstakes sportsbooks legally operating in California?
If you're wondering why sweepstakes sportsbooks are legally operating even though traditional betting sites in California are restricted, you’re definitely not alone. I’ve been in that same boat before, trying to figure out how these sites manage to stay compliant while others can’t. Well, the truth lies in the way they are structured.
While traditional sportsbooks require bettors to deposit funds into their accounts before making selections, sweepstakes sportsbooks don’t allow real money sports picks. This means you can just sign up, claim your welcome bonus, and start making sports prediction picks without spending a dime. With that in mind, here are some of the reasons why sweepstakes sportsbooks are operational in California:
They use virtual currencies
Unlike traditional New Jersey sportsbooks, where you’ll need to fund your account with some dollars before placing sports picks, sweepstakes sportsbooks in California make use of virtual currencies: Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC), which are usually offered to new users upon the registration of their accounts.
Regular users can also claim more by taking advantage of offers like daily login bonuses, referral perks, and mail-in bonuses. However, many new users may be confused about how these virtual currencies work in practice. While they are both used on sports picks, they work entirely differently, and I’ve highlighted their differences below:
| Gold Coins (GC) |
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| Sweepstakes Coins (SC) |
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Purchases are optional
Another reason why sweepstakes sportsbooks are legal in California is the fact that GC bundle purchases are optional on all of them. This means even if you choose not to make any purchase, you’ll still get access to their sports offerings without spending a dime, thanks to their regular user bonuses.
They don’t need licenses to operate
Unlike New York sportsbooks, which must secure a license to operate, sweepstakes sportsbooks in California don’t need one. That’s because they run under the US sweepstakes model. As a result, regulators classify them as promotional entities rather than traditional gambling sites.
What betting sites are legal in California?
I can’t tell you about any of the best sportsbooks in California because they are restricted at the moment. However, I’ve taken out some time to explore more than 15 sweepstakes sportsbooks, and I’ll be zooming in on the top 5 below:
Thrillzz – Lightweight mobile app
- Highly rated social sportsbook app
- 3,000 Thrillzz Coins + 3 Thrillzz Sweeps welcome offer
- User-friendly interface
- Always free to use
- No desktop social sportsbook
As a mobile-only gaming brand, you can only access Thrillzz via its dedicated mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. Like most of its counterparts, Thrillzz operates using two virtual currencies, but with a slight variation in name. Thrillzz Coins are used to place picks in fun mode, while Thrillzz Sweeps are used to place promotional picks. As soon as you register for an account, you’ll be eligible for a welcome offer of 3000 Thrillzz Coins and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps. You can place picks on events from the NBA, NFL, EPL, and more.
Sportzino – Overall best welcome bonus
I didn’t need to enter any bonus code before unlocking the brand’s welcome offer of 220,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweepstakes Coins. To claim this offer in full, you’ll need to complete some tasks like linking your Facebook account, verifying your phone number and email address, opting in for email promos, etc. You can as well join weekly challenges and leaderboard contests for extra rewards. The app covers more than 40 sports, including soccer, horse racing, basketball, tennis, and baseball. Apart from sports selections, you can also play over 1000 casino-style games on the app, without spending a dime.
Fliff – Social betting feature
- Daily bonuses and challenges
- Excellent sports coverage and odds
- Strong social and community features
- No web-based predictions
As a mobile-first gaming brand, Fliff’s performance on my phone remains unmatched, thanks to its dedicated mobile app. You’ll start with 5000 free Fliff Coins and 1 Fliff Cash as a new user. From there, you can claim more through daily logins, referrals, and special promos. The best part? You can use these virtual currencies to place picks on popular sports like the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and major soccer leagues. I also like how Fliff keeps things lively with prediction streaks and limited-time challenges.
Kickr – Wide range of betting markets
- Free Bits and Bucks for new players
- Several free promos for existing players
- Exclusive VIP program
- No live chat
After signing up on Kickr, I instantly received free 150,000 Bits and 4 Bucks, which I’ve been using to make picks on the biggest sports events, from football and basketball to MMA and baseball. Kickr also features a social casino, with over 500 games available. Kickr doesn’t require deposits, and purchases are 100% optional. You can always claim extra virtual currency through daily bonuses, referrals, and other in-app rewards. With its slick layout, lightning-fast cash prize redemption, and broad sports coverage, Kickr should be a top choice among bettors in California as well as those in other states.
Onyx Odds – Rewarding mail-in offer
- Free sports picks and predictions
- VIP program for existing users
- Low minimum Onyx Cash prize redemption
- Not available in some US states
Apart from covering events from MLB, NHL, NBA, Motorsports, and golf, Onyx Odds offers some of the most competitive odds among its peers, therefore living up to its name. Beyond sports coverage, the brand also shines when it comes to bonuses. As a new user, you don’t need to enter any bonus code to unlock its welcome offer, which consists of 1000 Onyx Coins. It’s a shame that Onyx Cash, the promotional virtual currency, wasn’t included as part of the welcome offer. But then again, there are plenty of other ways to claim some.
Pros and cons of betting on California sportsbooks
Since there are no traditional sportsbooks operating in California at the moment, I’ll be giving you a rundown of the pros and cons of all the sweepstakes sportsbooks that I recommended above:
- Excellent mobile performance
- Deep betting markets
- Generous bonuses
- Fair cash prize redemption policies
- Limited sports coverage
Getting started at California sportsbooks – Step-by-step guide
Now that you’re aware of the fact that there are no traditional sportsbooks in the state, creating an account on any of the top-rated sweepstakes sportsbooks doesn’t really demand much. Their registration processes are straightforward and can be completed in under a minute. But if you need a helping hand, you can follow these simple steps:
- Smash the link to your preferred site from the banners displayed on this page.
- Once the new page opens up, enter all required details.
- Complete the process by verifying your email address or phone number.
- Claim the welcome bonus.
- Head to the sports lobby and choose whether to pick in fun or sweepstakes mode.
- Make your picks and enter the amount of virtual currency you wish to place your pick with.
- Confirm and place the pick.
Until legalization arrives, sweepstakes sportsbooks are the way to go
After realizing that traditional sports betting sites don’t function in California for now due to the restrictive stance of the state, sweepstakes sportsbooks are obviously the way to go right now. They stand as the perfect alternative, offering users the opportunity to place picks on popular sports options without spending a dime. Fortunately, top-rated options like Thrillzz, Sportzino, Fliff, Kickr, and Onyx Odds go above and beyond to offer their users exceptional mobile experiences and a wide range of social betting markets. So, if you want to check them out, you’ll find their registration links on the banners displayed on this page.
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California sportsbooks FAQ
Are online sportsbooks legal in California?
No, traditional online sportsbooks are currently not legal in California. However, residents can legally enjoy sweepstakes sportsbooks like Thrillzz, Fliff, Sportzino, Kickr, and Onyx Odds, which operate using virtual currency instead of real money.
Can I win real money on sweepstakes sportsbooks in California?
No, you can’t win real money on any of the sweepstakes sportsbooks in California, since they don’t permit real money gaming. However, you can redeem your Sweepstakes Coins for cash prizes once you’ve met the attached playthrough requirements.
Do I need to purchase Gold Coin bundles at sweepstakes sportsbooks?
No, you don’t need to make any purchases to place picks on any of the sweepstakes sportsbooks. This is because purchases are 100% optional on all of them. You can still make your preferred picks by claiming on-site bonuses for free.
