Most bettors don’t look for a sportsbook in California because online sports betting sites are not legal in the state. Sweepstakes social betting sites were the next best thing, however with a ban on these sites starting in CA from January 1, 2026, options are more limited for sports fans.
While you may not have access to the best social sportsbooks in the Golden State now, there are a few alternatives for players looking for free-to-play social entertainment. We’ll discuss these options further in this guide, and clear up the legal position of sports betting in California. Let’s jump in.
As you may already be aware, traditional sports betting is prohibited in the state of California, meaning you cannot place sports bets or wager on sports. As of January 1, 2026, sweepstakes sportsbooks are also no longer be able to operate in California.
Previously, these sites were a great option for California sports enthusiasts.
However, after the passage of bill AB 831, which was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, sweepstakes sites like this are now banned in the state.
This means you can no longer access social sportsbooks that operate on the dual-currency sweepstakes model in the Golden State.
With sweepstakes social sportsbooks banned in California from January 1, 2026, you might be wondering what other options you have, especially since traditional sports betting is also prohibited.
While none of the following options replicate actual sports betting, as that would be illegal, they can provide a fun, social, and legal alternative for sports fans:
There are some social casinos and social sportsbooks that work purely on a free-to-play model, and do not involve real money wagering or prize redemption, both of which are banned in CA.
These sites allow you to play casino-style games or place social sports predictions for fun – with no option to redeem prizes or win any cash.
Skill gaming sites offer another legal way to play games online. They typically work around tournaments or contests. Players are matched up with other players depending on skill to ensure fairness.
There may be entry fees for the tournaments, and these fees may be pooled into prizes, but as the games are based on skill rather than chance, it does not fall under sweepstakes or gambling laws. This means the sites can operate within California.
As traditional online sports betting is not permitted in CA, social sportsbooks were the nearest alternative. However, from January 1, 2026, these sweepstakes sportsbooks are no longer permitted to operate in the Golden State either. As a result of this ban, California residents will no longer have access to social sports betting sites that offer prize redemption.
That said, options such as free-to-play social casinos and social sportsbooks, as well as skill games can continue to run for fun and entertainment purposes.
While these sites may not replicate sports betting, stay tuned for the latest updates at Deadspin as the future of sports betting in California continues to evolve.
Sports betting in California is not permitted under state law, and the activity is illegal. Therefore, you won’t find any CA sportsbooks within the Golden State.
Right now you cannot place sports bets in California, as sportsbooks are not allowed to operate or accept users from CA.
They were previously legal, however following the passage of bill AB 831, sweepstakes sites are banned in CA and can no longer operate in the state from January 1, 2026.
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