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February 28, 2025
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The Current State of Sports Betting in California: A Long Road Ahead

The world of sports betting has captured people’s imaginations across America. The mere thought of betting legally and being able to do it any way possible is enough to get anyone excited. But California, one of the largest states with an even bigger population, doesn’t allow this yet. This article goes through the ups and downs of its journey to legalizing sports betting.

The Failed Propositions

In October 2023, people in California are still unable to bet on their favorite team. It seems like a simple action that should be allowed, but it’s not. Now what if I told you that there were TWO propositions during a previous election that sought out to open doors to mobile, online, and in-person sports betting? As exciting as that sounds, they were both rejected by the public. These two propositions would have been prop 26 and prop 27.

Alternatives for Sports Bettors

The dream of waltzing into a local sportsbook to bet on a team remains unfulfilled. However, Californian residents have found other means of getting their fix in. Instead of just relying on traditional sports betting, they started using daily fantasy sports and other similar alternatives. While it still gives them that taste of excitement, they don’t enjoy it as much as actually going out and putting some money down.

Legal Sports Betting’s Uncertainty

Two years ago in 2022, Prop 26 and Prop 27 were rejected by the state of California. This left the whole sports betting community in an unsettled limbo. The topic of if or when the state would legalize gambling like this is heavily debated. For now, people who enjoy this hobby can only hope for a change in fortune.

A Glimpse of the Future

In this uncertain environment there’s one place that stands out to gamblers and sport enthusiasts — BossAction.com and their innovative new approach. It’s a website that provides bookie software for bets on sports games all under a pay-per-head platform. What they offer is exactly what a lot of people are looking for. Among their offerings, they have custom made software, AI bet suggestions, real time reports and 24/7 support. They even have an Agent Payment Solution that allows people to access their accounts from anywhere in the world.

California’s Other Gambling Options

For residents in California who are interested in sports and also want to bet on them, there are alternatives besides traditional betting. There’s things like social casinos and sweepstakes casinos which do provide a different experience for people who want to engage with their favorite teams while waiting for legal sports betting.

Getting Sports Betting Legalized in California: A Timeline

The road has been very bumpy but there are key moments that shape the way legalization may go:

  • November 9, 2022: The people of California have spoken and Prop 26 and Prop 27 were both given the same answer, a resounding no. Those who were hoping for quick legalization certainly had their dreams crushed.
  • October 28, 2022: Television ads promoting sports betting and these two propositions began airing all over the place. You could even see it during an NFL preseason game on NBC.
  • October 11, 2022: Jason Robins, CEO of DraftKings, said he believes that legal sports betting won’t pass in California until 2024. So for now supporters will continue to struggle.
  • August 23, 2022: $364 million was spent on sports betting in California. It’s safe to say that people here wanted it to be legal but signs were starting to show that it wouldn’t be.
  • August 4, 2022: People weren’t afraid to share their opinions about this debate once TV ads started airing on popular channels in Cali. It got people talking about how much they wanted it.
  • July 13, 2023: The Los Angeles Wire published an article about the advances in sports betting technology and the hope for legalization in the near future.

The Hope for Legal Sports Betting

Legalizing sports betting in California is no easy task. But that’s not stopping residents from hoping for it. The day when they can all place their bets legally may not be too far away. In the meantime, the sports betting community will continue to explore alternative methods and dream of a future where they could bet on their state’s rich sports history.

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