NFL Betting in California is still out of bounds, as the state legislature has yet to approve sports betting even at the state’s tribal casinos. Despite other states continuing to expand the practice, momentum from the state’s lawmakers is minimal, especially following the massive flops of Propositions 26 and 27 (which would have legalized sports betting) on the 2022 ballot. Still, in anticipation of a time when the practice is approved and live in the state, we wanted to give Californians an overview of what NFL betting could look like. Here, we’ll showcase some of the top sportsbooks expected to arrive in California and provide other important information for new sports bettors.
Because of the massive number of professional and collegiate teams in the state, many sports betting operators will flood the market once sports gambling is approved. Here are some of the best expected California sportsbooks for NFL betting.
FanDuel is one of the biggest sports betting operators in the country, and California sports fans can already familiarize themselves with FanDuel through daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests on the platform. It is incredibly easy to learn to use, making it a quality option for new players.
DraftKings and FanDuel often go hand in hand, so much so that a potential merger between the two was blocked by the Federal Trade Commission in 2017 for fear that the deal would lead to a monopoly. DK also runs DFS contests and carries an excellent selection for in-play betting lines.
BetMGM has one of the top rewards programs in the industry, offering players points towards exclusive perks (casino/hotel discounts, entertainment tickets, luxury cruises, and more) for every dollar wagered on the site. The operator also frequently has same game parlay boosts available.
Caesars tends to have the highest value for welcome bonuses; we’ve seen them as high as $1,500 in bonus bets for new users. Additionally, the bookie has some of the best customer service in the industry and an outstanding mobile betting app.
When sports betting goes live in the state, you can expect many of the California betting bonus offers to center around NFL teams; in some cases, the teams may list an operator as their “official sports betting partner.” Here are a few of the popular promos we expect California sportsbooks will offer.
Getting started betting on the NFL online in California won’t be too difficult of a process once operators are approved and open registration. Here’s how you’ll eventually be able to sign up.
There are many different wagers you will be able to place on the NFL in CA once the state legalizes sports betting. Here are a few of the most popular options.
Betting action particularly ramps up during the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. In addition to wagering on the individual matchups, you’ll also find wagers for which teams will win the AFC and NFC Championship Games as well as the eventual Super Bowl champion.
The Super Bowl is one of the biggest annual sporting events in the world, with 123.7 million U.S. viewers tuned in for Super Bowl LVIII in 2024; estimates from the American Gaming Association indicate more than $20 billion was wagered on the Big Game.
Part of the reason Super Bowl betting is such a major event is because there are many more prop bet markets than at a regular football game that don’t require a thorough knowledge of the game, teams, and players. For example, some of these props include the result of the opening coin toss, the length of the National Anthem performance, or the color of the sports drink poured on the winning head coach.
Reading NFL odds correctly is a frequent tripping point for new football bettors. However, by keeping two key details in mind, you’ll be a master at understanding them in no time.
Say the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are playing each other on Monday Night Football. The moneyline odds for the game might read as “Los Angeles Rams +150 at San Francisco 49ers -170.”
In this example, it’s important to note the “+” sign and the “-” sign. The Rams have a “+” sign next to their name, which means they are the underdog (that an L.A. win is the less likely outcome); on the other hand, the 49ers have a “-” sign next to their odds, indicating they are the betting favorite (the team that is expected to win).
The next thing to consider is the numbers after those symbols. Betting on the underdogs yields higher returns for the same stake but carries a lower likelihood of winning; the inverse is true for betting on favorites.
Next, to calculate how much money you would win betting on either team, look at the number after the +/- symbol. If you wagered $100 on the Rams and L.A. won, you would win $150 and receive a $250 payout.
Conversely, wagering on the favorite (the 49ers) means you need to bet more money to win a similar amount. In the example above, you would need to wager $170 on the Niners to win $100 (thus leading to a $270 payout). If you wagered $100 like the Rams scenario and San Francisco won, a $100 stake would only win $58.82 and pay out $158.82.
When you’re finally ready to head to the sportsbooks or gamble via a mobile betting app, keep these expert tips in mind when betting on the NFL.
