California Online Sports Betting (When Will it Be Legal?)

If you’re a sports fan living in California, you’ve likely wondered about the legality of sports betting in the state. Right now, California online sports betting isn’t legal. There have been attempts to legalize it, but none have scaled through yet.

But we've got good news, traditional sports betting is off limits, but there are social sportsbooks where you can enjoy sports betting for free without breaching California gambling laws. As you read on, you'll find five sites where you can get in on the action for free, including Sports Millions, Sportzino, and Rebet.

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Why Isn’t Sports Betting Legal in California?

California is the most populous state in the US, with over 39 million residents, making it a goldmine for potential sports betting revenue. So, why isn’t it legal yet, you may ask?

• Reports suggest that the issue boils down to several factors. Without going too deep into the details, here’s what is happening. California tribes and commercial operators are said to have been at odds over who should control the sports betting market.
• In November 2022, two major ballot measures aimed at legalizing sports betting failed to pass. Proposition 26 proposed in-person betting at tribal casinos and racetracks, while Proposition 27 sought to legalize online sports betting statewide.
• Both measures were rejected, and as of now, California’s lawmakers haven’t proposed a clear timeline for revisiting sports betting legislation, making it one of the few states where traditional sports betting is still not allowed.

However, the top social sportsbooks have you covered with California online sports betting alternatives.

What Social Betting Alternatives can you try?

Since California online sports betting options are out of the question, social betting apps have become incredibly popular as pretty solid options. These offer legal and fun ways to enjoy sports without wagering real money. So, instead of cash, you'll use virtual currencies or tokens to place social bets and compete with friends or even the larger community.

Social betting is legal in California and it's also a great way to cater to several sports betting styles. As an addition, all of the brands I'll be talking about operate on a no purchase necessary business model, have unique features, and even opportunities to redeem Sweepstakes Coin winnings for alternative prizes. So, let's get rolling.

How do these social betting apps stack up?

 Sports Millions

Pros & Cons of SportsMillions Casino

• Free-to-play model
• Sweepstakes Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes
• Both DFS and casino-style games available
• Daily bonuses and ongoing promotions available

• Not available in all US states

Visit SportsMillions

Sports Millions isn’t your average social sportsbook app, it’s a three-in-one site that offers something for every type of sports fan. Whether you prefer fantasy sports, free-to-play sports picks, or even social casino games with no purchase needed to join in the fun. You'll find handy tabs on the left that let you easily switch between these three sections. New sign ups can pick up 50,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins, these virtual currencies can be used to place bets on NFL, NBA, MLB, and more.

Let’s start with their social sports betting feature called Blitz’em. Switching to this mode lets you use your welcome bonus of Gold Coins to enter randomized legs based on real-world games for free. You can choose Fixed Play (win all legs) or Flex Play (win some legs). Blitz’em offers a fun, risk-free way to enjoy sports gaming. Plus, it’s a great option if you want to test your sports knowledge.

I also came across the Sports Millions daily fantasy Pick’em contest, which has quickly become a favorite among stats enthusiasts. The idea is pretty simple as you'll have to choose whether a player’s stats, like points, rebounds, or touchdowns, will go higher or lower than the total displayed. And you can build your lineup with anywhere from 2 to 12 picks. What’s even better is that the more players you add, the higher your chances of a potential payout, way up to 1,500x. However, this fantasy betting is the only section that requires a deposit to enter. You can skip this if you're not ready and instead try the fun sports and casino games sections.

Finally, there’s the social casino section, where you can use your Gold Coins to spin the wheel or try other casino-style games. It’s the perfect way to unwind between contests and add variety to your gaming experience. What I personally liked the most is that Sports Millions regularly updates its offerings with real-time stats and predictions, so you'll feel like you’re a part of all the action, there are also regular promotions that let you collect free bonus coins to keep the fun going and has dedicated apps for both Android and iOS users. This makes gaming on the go a lot easier.

Sportzino

Sportzino: Pros & Cons

• Top welcome promotion
• All-in-one social sportsbook and casino
• Realistic sports betting experience

• No mobile app

Visit Sportzino

Sportzino is a social betting app that creates a perfect blend with the fun of social sports betting and a focus on community. This app only social sportsbook is a complete hit if you're a sports fan looking for a fun, legal way to bet on sports. So, what's Sportzino all about and why is it so popular?

Well, for starters, new bettors can pick up 10 Sweepstakes Coins and 220,000 Gold Coins to place your social bets on over 40 sports, including basketball, soccer, and rugby. You'll also find the full range of betting markets and bet types like moneylines, spreads, totals and parlays.

In addition to the robust welcome bonus, you can access daily challenges that can score you even more coins, all you have to do is complete some tasks like predicting game outcomes or answering trivia questions.

All these are great for Californians searching for sports betting options, but there's more as you may have seen in our Ballislife news section, which keeps you up to date on trending sports stories and stats. I'd recommend this for social bettors like me who want to stay informeds.

Fliff

Fliff: Pros & Cons

• Great welcome bonus
• Dedicated mobile app
• Play for fun or cash prizes
• Great social sportsbook experience

• Limited payment options

Visit Fliff

Sports betting is not legal in California, but big players like Fliff are social betting sites that are worth your time. Founded in 2020, Fliff merges social gaming with sports betting and also has free sports predictions. With over 1 million downloads, it’s easy to see why it's one of the most popular options for Californians.

Fliff operates under the sweepstakes model, much like the brands highlighted in the California sweepstakes casino guide. It uses virtual currencies called Fliff Coins (much like Gold Coins) for fun sports picks, and Fliff Cash (similar to Sweeps Coins) used to place social bets.

As a new player, you can use our exclusive bonus code BILFLIFF during sign up to get 600,000 Fliff Coins. Just remember that Fliff Cash is tied to purchases, but purchasing coins is entirely optional. If you prefer, you can simply enjoy making predictions and placing bets with just Fliff Coins. However, placing bets with Fliff Cash gives you an opportunity to redeem your winnings for gift cards and other prizes.

While trying out the sports section, I was pleasantly surprised to see live betting options and predictions for major leagues like the NBA, NFL, and NHL. So, I had the choice to adjust my picks as the action unfolds. It's an adrenaline packed experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Rebet

Rebet: Pros & Cons

• Unique social betting features
• Daily login bonus
• Community-building app
• Win real rewards

• No real customer reviews yet

Rebet is another great California online betting alternative that just has to be mentioned. If you're searching for fun social sportsbooks with a bit more competitiveness, then this is where you'll find it.

Rebet is easily the go-to site for sports fans who like challenging their friends and participating in community tournaments. I've had a great time trying out numerous sportsbooks, and Rebet's player-versus-player challenges hit all the right notes. Customizable leagues let you set up private competitions with friends, which makes it very unique.

There are also over 60 major sports categories to choose from, with an extensive range of virtual betting markets for sports and esports. Put simply, Rebet is a bettors haven you won't want to take a pass on. New sign-ups can collect 100 free Rebet Coins and 1 Rebet Cash soon after joining. You’ll also be able to receive up to 100% Rebet Cash bonus on your first optional Rebet Coins purchase.

Rebet Coins work the same way as Gold Coins, while Rebet Cash is very similar to Sweeps Cash in that it is redeemable if the necessary conditions are met. As legal betting sites in California are still very much grounded, why not check out this social app for your sports betting fun instead?

Vivid Picks

Pros & Cons of Vivid Picks

• Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
• Competitive welcome bonus up to $100
• Wide sports market coverage
• Over/Under and Versus contests

• Limited banking options

Finally, let’s talk about Vivid Picks, a new app that takes social betting to a whole new level by focusing on player or team stats instead of game outcomes. For Californians looking for legal ways to enjoy sports, this DFS brand is a good alternative to California online sports betting, you'll get all the excitement without the legal complications.

If you’re into analyzing player performances and predicting stats for NBA, NFL, or MLB games, you’ll feel right at home here. I stumbled upon their daily contests and also rewards for accurate predictions, and honestly, it’s a great way to flex your sports knowledge without any outlay. So, if you’re good at calling the shots, this might just be your new playground.

Vivid Picks welcomes new DFS players with a two-part sign up bonus, which are a first deposit match up bonus up to 300 Vivid Bucks and up to $25 secured play on your first real money DFS contest entry.

What truly sets Vivid Picks apart is its daily fantasy sports feature. It integrates leagues so smoothly that the entire experience feels effortless. And unlike other sites that require upfront payments, you don’t need to spend a dime to play in unless you want to unlock some extra perks, of course.

The best social betting options for Californians

California online sports betting is still illegal, so social betting apps are the next best thing. SportsMillions, Sportzino, Fliff, Rebet, and Vivid Picks offer everything from free welcome bonuses to exciting sports options and competitions.

You'll get plenty of options to choose from. So, whether you’re a stats nerd or just love sports, these social betting apps make it easy to join in with the action legally. So, why not give one of our recommended social sportsbooks a try using the links on this page?