
Searches for the best sports betting sites in California may have proven futile in the past, but the emergence of a new generation of social sportsbooks has changed all that – allowing you to predict sports outcomes for the first time.
Whatever your team and whichever sports you enjoy following, we’re here to tell you about seven sportsbooks that are 100% legal in the Golden State. Granted, they’re a little different from other bookmakers out there (something we’ll get to presently), but sites like Fliff, Sportzino, and Legendz still offer an authentic experience that brings fun and excitement in abundance.
It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that online sports betting remains illegal in California. Unlike in some states, CA lawmakers have made virtually no concessions to online bookmakers, so wagering real cash on the Lakers, the Giants, and the Dodgers could prove impossible.
Why, then, have we dedicated a full article to the best sports betting sites in California? Well, that’s all to do with the rise of social sportsbooks – sites that let you make sports predictions without wagering real money. As it happens, there are now a solid handful of these types of social sports betting sites in California, so you can enjoy an authentic experience much like you would at a comparable online sportsbook in Texas.
Of course, the catch with not wagering with real money on sweeps-style sportsbooks in California is that you can’t win anything either. Cash prizes are not paid out on winning bets on these types of free-play sports picker sites, with players instead picking up free tokens that they can use on subsequent fixture predictions.
It is worth noting, though, that some sites have adopted a sweepstakes gaming model, giving you the chance to exchange free “Sweeps Coins” for prizes like cash and gift cards after meeting the playthrough and eligibility requirements. One such site is Fliff, and before you ask the question, is Fliff legal in California?, we can confirm that yes, it most definitely is.
Much like we did in our recent guide to sportsbooks in Florida, here’s a shortlist of sites we can recommend to sports-loving Californians eager to predict the outcome of sports fixtures happening in the Golden State and beyond.
With a choice of 3,000+ “betting” markets and over 60 sports to choose from, there’s little wonder Rebet has taken the USA by storm. In states like California where real sports betting isn’t permitted, Rebet is the perfect alternative, offering a fully-fledged sportsbook experience whose only compromise is the lack of real cash wagering. And it isn’t just the sheer scale of sports markets that make Rebet a great place to bet; the site’s mobile app, live chat support, and regular promos make it worthy of praise, too.
When Fliff first emerged in 2019, we knew that developers Mario Dodev and Matt Ricci were on to a winner. Toeing the line between a traditional bookmaker and a social sports picker app, Fliff is nevertheless perfectly legal in states like California, meaning that millions of passionate sports fans stand to benefit from its streamlined and bags-of-fun mobile app. Bet for fun or in promotional mode thanks to Fliff’s simple yet effective sweepstakes gaming system. By toggling to “Fliff Cash” mode before making your selections, you could win more Fliff Cash which can later be redeemed for real prizes.
Don’t forget, too, that you can claim an exclusive welcome bonus using our code FLIFFISLIFE, with 1,000 Fliff Coins and 1 Fliff Cash available when you sign up as a new user.
The very first thing to note about Thrillzz is that this is a prime example of a mobile-only social sportsbook in California. That means you won’t be able to register with or use the site on a standard PC or laptop, or even use a mobile browser version of the site for that matter.
Instead, all the action takes place via the Thrillzz mobile app, which is certainly no hardship for smartphone users. Thrillzz has devised a pretty awesome social sportsbook here, with hundreds of betting markets and sports available to browse. We will say that the site does have a slightly complicated in-built currency system, but once you get your head around it, there’s certainly a lot to like here.
Since online sports betting and online casinos are blacklisted in the Golden State, SportsMillions ought to be a tempting proposition for Californians. Why? Because it offers both sports picking and casino gameplay on a sweepstakes gaming basis – with real prizes available when you collect and redeem free Sweeps Coins after meeting the 1x playthrough requirement.
Even if you’re only playing for fun, there’s so much to like about SportsMillions, including a full suite of promotions and some excellent first-time purchase deals. Remarkably, alongside a fully-fledged sportsbook, there are over 800 games to enjoy here, including slots and tables from premium game developers like Pragmatic Play and 3 Oaks Gaming.
Launched at the tail end of 2024, Legendz looks set to become a household name in the sweepstakes casino and social sportsbook arena. Like SportsMillions, the developers of Legendz saw fit to combine the best of sweepstakes casino and social sportsbook play on a single platform, so you can predict the latest Lakers game one minute and jump into a round of roulette the next.
Join Kickr on its awesome sweepstakes sportsbook/casino and you can net yourself a tidy welcome deal worth 150,000 Bits and 4 Bucks. If you’re a little confused by what these free tokens represent, all you need to know is that Bits are used for just-for-fun casino gameplay and sports picking, while Bucks can be collected and exchanged for prizes like cash and gift cards. With just 80 playable titles, there aren’t exactly a ton of games to play here, but the Kickr sportsbook is teeming with fixtures and events for you to place your top “picks” on.
While you will need to pass verification checks before enjoying all the top features and services that Sportzino has to offer, it’s a real boon knowing that this awesome sweepstakes gaming site is available in California. This is easily one of the most authentic and true-to-life social sportsbooks on our shortlist, offering a realistic wagering experience that will make you feel you’re at the betting booth. You can also tap into a truly exceptional sign-up bonus when you register as a new Sportzino customer in CA; there are 170,000 GC + 7 SC up for grabs when you complete certain tasks, like connecting your Facebook and Google accounts.
As we hope you’ve gathered from our list of eligible CA sportsbooks, there are plenty of sites available that can appease the appetites of passionate sports fans in the Golden State. Indeed, with so many awesome options at your fingertips, you might need to hone in on sign-up bonus size as the real difference-maker here…
CA Sportsbook | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|
Rebet | 100 Rebet Coins + 1 Rebet Cash |
Fliff | 1,000 Fliff Coins and 1 Fliff Cash |
Thrillzz | 3,000 Thrillzz Coins + 3 Sweeps Coins |
SportsMillions | 1,000 Gold Coins + 3 Sweeps Coins |
Legendz | 500 SC and 3 SC |
Kickr | 150,000 Bits + 4 Bucks |
Sportzino | 170,000 Gold Coins + 7 Sweeps Coins |
With a blanket ban on real-money gambling still in effect across the Golden State, the emergence of sites like Rebet, Fliff, Thrillzz, SportsMillions, Legendz, Kickr, and Sportzino should come as welcome news for Californian sports enthusiasts – not to mention their Vegas-loving counterparts. Whether you’re happy to bet on a just-for-fun basis or fancy your chances at redeeming Sweeps Coins winnings for legit prizes – these awesome sites offer the perfect solution for those pining for a slice of sportsbook and casino action online.
Before you go, we need to reiterate the importance of checking through a brand’s T&Cs with a fine-tooth comb before you start. While social and sweepstakes sportsbooks are legal in CA, that’s not to say they’re entirely free from rules, restrictions, and limits that could affect how you play and bet. This isn’t reserved strictly for California either; sportsbooks in Georgia are exposed to similar T&Cs.
It’s not a case of a sportsbook being legal in California. Instead, it’s about the nature of the site and what it offers. For instance, Fliff is legal in CA but doesn’t offer real money wagering, instead offering its sports pick games on a sweepstakes-only basis.
Sure you can. Sites like Fliff, Kickr, and Sportzino offer some excellent bonuses to new and returning players alike, with rewards like free Gold Coins and free Sweeps Coins available.
From our perspective, it’s hard to beat the likes of Rebet, Fliff, Thrillzz, SportsMillions, Legendz, Kickr, and Sportzino when it comes to legal sportsbook play in the Golden State.
© 2005-2024 BALLISLIFE.COM - PO BOX 15355. IRVINE, CA 92623
21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.