Welcome to the Jersey Gypsy column, where our resident travel reporter, Valentina Lopez, roams the globe in pursuit of stories.
As part of her US travels, Valentina’s been in California, taking in all the Golden State has to offer. So far, she’s:
- Checked out historic Dodger Stadium
- Explored the magic of Universal Studios
- Eaten some of the best Mexican food in the United States
Sports Betting Sites I Tried in California
Based on my time here, there are basically three online sportsbooks I’d recommend over all the others:
- Betwhale – a newer site, but definitely one to watch (lots of innovation here)
- BetOnline – one of the most established sites in the business
- BetUS – my favorite sportsbook overall, especially for California sports
Scroll down for my complete overview of these sites (along with my recommendations). Or keep reading to hear more about my trip to California.
Dodger Stadium…truly a top-three sporting experience.
California is a sports fan’s paradise. They’ve got every sport under the sun out here, and some of the best teams, too (don’t tell anyone back home, but…I’m actually a Dodger fan. Been in my family since they were in Brooklyn, y’know?).
So why has it always been so hard to bet on sports out here?
Every time I come out here I’m surprised to re-discover that many of your top sportsbooks aren’t available in the state — and forget about finding a brick-and-mortar bookie. If you don’t know where to look, you’re truly out of luck.
And most people I spoke to out here — even the die-hard sports fans — had no idea where to look. I mainly got blank stares when I asked about the best online sportsbooks for California players.
Fortunately, there were a few people who set me straight, letting me know the safest and most convenient places to get a bet down. Surprisingly enough, they were all sites I’d heard of before (including a few I’d already played at, too).
I got this information just in time. With the MLB playoffs winding down and the NFL and NBA seasons gearing up, I had some money in my pocket that was just begging to be put in play.
The ballpark up north ain’t so bad, either…
Here’s what I considered when making my decision about the best California sports betting sites:
- Quality of odds
- Variety of markets
- Bonuses and other promotions (like boosted odds)
- Cashout experience
To keep things fair, I kept the comparisons as apples-to-apples as I could. This meant betting on the same game (Commanders at Eagles on Thursday Night Football), so that I could compare the odds and betting experience as neatly as possible.
I deposited $100 on each site with Bitcoin, which I also used for cashouts.
First Sportsbook I Tried: BetWhale
- Pregame Line: Commanders +178, Eagles -222
- Pregame Prop: N/A
- Hours Spent Testing: 2
- Bonus Claimed: 125% match up to $1,250
- Cashout Speed: 75 minutes
BetWhale isn’t a household name, as it’s one of the newer sites on the market. However, I’ve heard several bettors mention it as a site to watch recently, so it was time to give them a spin.
While the site has a ton of American odds, it’s clearly an international sportsbook. You can bet on any event across the globe, and the payment options (very crypto-heavy) lend themselves to global play as well.
What I Liked
The best thing about this site is also the first thing they greet you with: their deposit bonus, which is a 125% match that caps out at $1,250. That’s a lot of gambling money right there.
They also have a ton of betting markets; as expected, many of these are international, but you’ll find all you can eat for American sports, too.
A heavy emphasis is placed on alternative lines here. I didn’t see a traditional spread listed for the game — instead, you have dozens of alt lines with different prices, allowing you to determine your own risk level. I absolutely love that, but inexperienced bettors might be confused at first.
What I Didn’t Like
The live betting interface is sleek, but look at all those tabs they expect you to click…
Let’s start with the biggie: I didn’t see any props listed before the game at all. That’s a huge strike right off the bat.
The layout is very dark, which seems to be all the rage nowadays for most sites. Still, if you’re betting in a bar or someplace like that, it can be hard to see what you’re doing.
Also, the layout is a bit complicated. It often takes several clicks to get where you want to go.
Check out the site for yourself – this may not seem like a big deal, but when you’re trying to lock in a bet mid-game before the odds change, every second counts.
Next On the List: BetOnline
- Pregame Line: Commanders +180, Eagles -210
- Pregame Prop: Terry McLaurin OVER 4.5 receptions -125
- Hours Spent Testing: 2
- Bonus Claimed: $250 in free bets
- Cashout Speed: 22 minutes
BetOnline is one of the oldest and most established sportsbooks in the entire industry, much less California. It’s been in business for more than 30 years, so this isn’t some fly-by-night operation.
Full disclosure: I’ve played here before, but never in California. However, it worked smoothly, and I didn’t have any issues with depositing or cashing out, so California players should be all set to play here.
What I Liked
The layout here is pretty much the polar opposite of what you’ll find at BetWhale — and personally, I greatly prefer BetOnline.
Everything is neat and well-organized, and it’s easy to tell exactly where you need to go. The white background makes it easy to tell what you’re looking at as well, even in low light.
On balance, the odds here were better than the other two sites I tried. The price was a little worse on the Commanders, but significantly juicier for the Eagles, making this the best spot for betting favorites.
What I Didn’t Like
There’s a lot of wasted space here.
As with BetWhale, there are some improvements that could be made to the live betting experience. You only get about five or six bets on the page, which means you have to scroll or click to find the rest. Again, just makes for unnecessary effort when you’re in the middle of the action.
The bonus offer here is lower than at the other two sites as well, even though $250 in free bets goes a long way for new bettors.
The Final Contender: BetUS
- Pregame Line: Commanders +183, Eagles -215
- Pregame Prop: Terry McLaurin OVER 4.5 receptions -125
- Hours Spent Testing: 1.5
- Bonus Claimed: 125% match up to $2,000
- Cashout Speed: 13 minutes
As the name suggests, BetUS is one of the top sportsbooks for American players, which makes it a natural option for California sports bettors.
It’s a huge sportsbook, and like BetOnline, I’d played here before. It’s been a while, though, and I was eager to see what the experience was like in California.
This one just feels like more of a major site, right down to the celebrity endorsement (although maybe Michael Vick isn’t the best choice…). It also has its own TV programming, which is great if you’re looking for hot tips.
What I Liked
BetUS has an extremely professional vibe. That may not seem like much, but in the occasionally rough-and-tumble world of online sports betting, I like to know that I’m dealing with someone who knows what they’re doing.
If anything, it feels like an old-school brick-and-mortar sportsbook, right down to some of the perks they offer. You can get your own personal account manager, which means that there’s someone in your corner just a few clicks away.
They also put some of the best features — like their boosted odds, same-game parlays, and prop builder — front and center where you can’t miss them. That’s just smart, and helpful for both newbies and bettors in a hurry.
There are two different live betting interfaces to choose from as well. Both waste a lot of space just like BetOnline, but they make up for it by having big buttons and clearly-marked odds changes. Of the three, this was my favorite spot for in-game betting.
What I Didn’t Like
When you want to see the odds for a certain sport, you have to click the sport, then click a button that says “Display Selected.” I can’t for the life of me figure out why they have this feature — all it does is create an unnecessary middleman.
They also had the worst odds on favorites that I saw. Of course, the flip side to that is that this is the place to go if you like to bet on dogs (and for some stupid reason, I do).
Here’s their current bonus offer if you’re interested.
My Verdict: Comparing the Three California Sportsbooks I Tried
First off, the good news: after a long time without any good sports betting options, Californians now have three pretty darn good choices. I like all these sites, honestly.
You didn’t click on this article to see everyone get a participation trophy, though. Here are my thoughts about where each site excels (or doesn’t, as the case may be):
Best Betting Interface: BetOnline
One of my big pet peeves is designers who try to do too much. Don’t show off — just make the site easy and intuitive to use.
The folks behind BetOnline certainly understood the assignment. Everything is clearly laid out and easy to find, saving you precious seconds when you’re hunting down the perfect bet.
It’s also extremely easy to read, which is one of those considerations that makes me think I might be getting old (but is extremely important nonetheless).
Best Bonus: BetWhale
Getting a 125% deposit match up to $1,250 is quite the warm welcome, and it’s one the other sites can’t quite match.
Yes, BetUS technically offers more money, but their offer is much more deceptive (they say it’s a 125% match, but 25% of that goes to the casino), so I dinged them for that. Also, the wagering requirement is much lower at BetWhale, making it the easier bonus to work off.
I suspect BetUS might take this category if we considered all of the possible rewards, as a personalized account manager can be worth their weight in gold, but if we’re just looking at welcome offers, the nod here goes to BetWhale.
Best Live Betting Experience: BetUS
The ability to seamlessly add same-game parlays to your ticket without having to click a bunch of buttons was clutch here. If you’re like me, then SGPs make up a healthy portion of your bets, so being able to find them easily is important.
However, all three sites could stand to see a little improvement in this area, as I feel they all require unnecessary clicks and navigation to find what you’re looking for.
Ultimately, though, BetUS’s was the cleanest and easiest to understand, and that can make a massive difference if it allows you to get a bet down before the line moves.
Best Overall: BetUS
BetUS is one of the biggest names in sports betting, and for now at least, it’s the best option Californians have available.
I like just about everything about this site, from the healthy bonus options to the massive amount of game props.
It’s also a nice compromise between old-school ambiance and modern convenience. It has everything you’d expect from a brick-and-mortar bookie, including the ability to interact with a personal account manager, but it works incredibly well on mobile devices, making it perfect for betting on the go.
Of course, I recommend having accounts at multiple sportsbooks so that you can line shop, but if you plan to stick with just one, the best of the bunch is BetUS.
Diving Into the Data: How the Sports Betting Sites in California Compare
So far, everything I’ve shared here is just my opinion. That’s good as far as it goes, but I thought it might be helpful to provide some data behind the sites as well.
Based on my research, this is what’s available to California sports bettors.
Betting Markets
As you can see, there’s a world of difference between the sites in terms of what you can bet on. You can bet on just about any sport at all three sites, but the types of bets you can make vary wildly.
BetWhale lags behind the other two sites in terms of what’s on tap, but that’s to be expected from a newer sportsbook. The biggest thing you’re likely to notice is the absence of prop bets, which is a pretty major oversight in my opinion.
They make up for it with a truly staggering number of alt lines, which will come in handy for bettors who like to buy points.
BetOnline and BetUS are pretty evenly matched, with the biggest difference being the fact that BetUS has a few more options in general. BetUS is also more US-facing, whereas BetOnline has plenty of global odds. I expect California bettors will prefer BetUS in that regard.
Bonuses
Again, we have BetOnline and BetUS neck-and-neck, with BetWhale bringing up the rear.
That being said, BetWhale gets out of the gate strong, with the best welcome bonus in the business in my humble (but accurate) opinion. Yes, it’s less than the bonus at BetUS, but it’s significantly easier to earn, which makes a ton of difference.
After that, though, there’s not much on the menu for BetWhale users other than the occasional free bet promos. It lacks a loyalty program or any sort of ongoing bonuses.
The other two sites both have VIP programs, which are pretty much identical to these eyes.
Climb the ladder high enough and you can have pretty much anything you want (but know that reaching the highest level at BetOnline requires making over $100 million in lifetime bets — so yeah, they should give you whatever you want).
BetUS also has a standing reload bonus, but it’s only for crypto users. Given that crypto is the best way for California players to fund their accounts, though, that’s a pretty handy offer indeed.
Cashout Options
Here’s something you need to know about California sports betting: the most difficult part of all of this is getting money on and off of these sites.
While depositing is usually easy, as you can use major credit cards like Visa and MasterCard, you can’t withdraw back to those cards, so you have to find another method. That means you’ll pretty much be limited to either cryptocurrency or a wire transfer.
My recommendation is to use cryptocurrency if at all possible. It’s incredibly fast, super safe, and there are no fees (some sites charge hefty fees for checks or wire transfers).
I used Bitcoin for the purposes of this experiment, and I had no issues whatsoever. It also made for an incredibly fast cashout experience, as it took mere minutes to get my money from all three sites.
New to Online Sports Betting in California? My Advice
Many sports fans in California don’t even realize that betting online is an option, so don’t feel bad if this is a whole new world to you. I actually spoke to several people while I was at a Dodger game on this trip and told them about online sports betting, so the gospel is on the move.
That being said, if you’re just starting out, here’s what I think you should know:
Shop Around
In the old days, line shopping was a pain in the butt (trust me, I’m old enough to remember). You had to get on the phone and call up as many bookies as you could to find the best line, and then you’d have to drive all around town to collect your winnings if you got lucky.
Nowadays, though, finding the best odds couldn’t be any easier.
There’s always another sportsbook just a click away, so once you know which game you want to bet on, it’s smart to see where you can get the best price before you actually lock in a bet. I keep accounts at several sites so that I can snag a great price before the line moves.
Also, opening up multiple accounts lets you cash in on multiple deposit bonuses, which is a great way for newbies to build their bankrolls. It’s totally legal, so don’t feel bad about doing it.
Think About Cashing Out Before You Begin
As I said above, the hardest thing about betting on sports in California is cashing out your winnings. The way I handle this is by never winning, but I recommend you find a different strategy.
The best method for California bettors by far is cryptocurrency. Coins like Bitcoin or Ethereum are safe (safer than credit cards, actually), fast, and many sites will give you special bonuses for using them.
Don’t be intimidated by them, either. They’re incredibly easy to use (this old man figured them out), and every sportsbook will have a detailed guide to depositing and withdrawing with cryptocurrency in their help sections.
Check Everything On Your Phone
Don’t make the mistake of just looking at sites on your desktop computer. Some sportsbooks look completely different on a phone or tablet than they do on a computer, so you need to be sure you like them on both before signing up.
And trust me, you’ll likely be making most of your bets from your phone. Most players like to sit and watch the game while making live bets on their cellphones, and it’s easy to see why — it really makes the games more exciting.
All three sites above are optimized for use on mobile devices, so they work great no matter what. If you decide to try a different site, though, be sure to check it out on your iPhone or Android before making an account.
Basic Info About California Sportsbooks
The online sports betting world can be overwhelming at first, and California sportsbooks are no different in that regard. Here’s some general info that may be useful to new and experienced bettors alike.
You Can Bet On Literally Anything
Just about any online sportsbook will let you bet on the Lakers or 49ers, but most sites also let you bet on events across the globe.
Want to bet on the Premier League? You can do that. More of a fan of an obscure Turkish soccer club? You can probably bet on their matches, too.
There’s no end to the amount of sports and events you can bet on, and if your current sportsbook doesn’t offer odds on, say, Mongolian table tennis, I guarantee you there’s another site that does.
Things Move a Lot Faster Than You Might Be Used To
Online betting moves at the speed of light. That’s good news for the most part, as it means you’re always getting the most updated odds and info, but it also means that it can be overwhelming at first.
That’s especially true if you’re trying to gamble while watching a game. Switching back and forth between screens can be stressful if you’re not used to it, so my advice is to start slowly.
And remember, it’s ok if you miss a juicy bet or two. There’s going to be another one coming your way in a few minutes, I promise.
It’s Smart to Explore Different Types of Bets
Live betting and parlays get all the hype, because they’re what the internet was made for. Being able to win big money on a small outlay or being able to literally bet on each pitch in a baseball game is intoxicating, to say the least.
However, oftentimes the most profitable bets can be found elsewhere. Consider checking on futures, or looking up some more obscure sports or teams.
If you can be an expert in something that no one else knows anything about, you’ll likely find yourself well-situated to win in the long run.
My Final Thoughts About California Online Sports Betting
If you’re a sports fan living in California, then you really need to get caught up on all the sports betting options available to you. Most fans don’t know that betting on sports is even possible here, and they end up missing out on some juicy action as a result.
While I had never bet on sports in the Golden State, I’ve had plenty of experience betting on sports elsewhere, so trust me when I say that the options here are just as good as you’ll find in Vegas or anywhere else.
Whether you like betting on your favorite team or picking out props, you can do it at online sportsbooks in California — and you’ll likely get better odds and rewards than you’ve ever gotten before.
The system still has some kinks to work out (especially when it comes to cashing out with anything other than crypto), but overall, betting on sports here is safe, convenient, and incredibly fun.
Just never bet on the Angels. Never, ever do that.
FAQs About These Sportsbooks
As I said earlier, I’ve been spreading the good word about California online sportsbooks during my time here, and I’ve heard the same questions over and over when I do. Here’s what players generally want to know when I tell them about California sports betting:
Can You Bet On Sports in California?
Yes, you can bet on sports if you live in California. There are dozens of safe and reputable sportsbooks that accept players from the state, including the three I’ve listed above.
What is the Best Sportsbook for California Players?
In my experience, the best sportsbook for players in California is BetUS (and it’s probably my favorite sportsbook for US players as a whole). It’s extremely well-run and has great odds and promos.
Are Online Sportsbooks Safe?
Some online sportsbooks are safe, some aren’t — just like with brick-and-mortar bookies. I’d stick to the three I outlined above, or other reputable options like Bovada.
What Kinds of Bets Can I Make at Online Sportsbooks in California?
You can make all the same bets at online sportsbooks that you can at regular sportsbooks. That includes props, totals, spreads, futures, parlays, and much more.
What Payment Methods Do California Sportsbooks Accept?
Most California sportsbooks allow you to deposit with credit cards, cryptocurrencies, and e-wallets. However, cashing out is a different story; you’ll likely be limited to either crypto or wire transfers. I recommend using crypto to both deposit and withdraw.
Can I Bet On Sports with My Mobile Device?
Yes, most online sportsbooks are optimized for mobile use. The vast majority of online sports bets are placed with phones, so you’ll fit right in!
Got a suggestion for which US state Valentina should travel to next, or what she should do on her adventures? Reach out to her at [email protected] — she’s always looking for something new to try!
