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ESPN Bet Sportsbook California

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Johnny Covers By: Johnny Covers
Fact checked by: Gary Garry
Table of contents

Disclaimer: ESPN Bet sportsbook has not launched in California yet.

ESPN Bet CA bonus

Expected bonus: Coming soon
Promo code: No code needed
Minimum deposit: $10
Last updated: December 2023

Sportsbook overview

Sportsbook: ESPN Bet
Legal in California: No
Partner in California: N/A
Payment methods:
(+3)

In early August 2023, PENN Entertainment struck sports betting gold in the form of an exclusive deal with ESPN to start a brand new sportsbook with the media goliath, known as ESPN Bet. As a result, their partnership with Barstool Sportsbook ended, and PENN converted the existing Barstool platform to match the new branding.

Despite California not yet offering sports betting, let’s take a look at all things ESPN Bet Sportsbook California as The Golden State remains the biggest untapped sports betting market in the country.

Is ESPN Bet Sportsbook live in California?

No, ESPN Bet Sportsbook is not yet live in California, as sports betting is not yet legal in the state, which has so far resisted attempts at sports betting legislation. In its most recent attempt, both Prop 26 and Prop 27 failed to pass the 50% “Yes” threshold requirement to put either or both into law.

The first, Prop 26, was a bill aimed at opening retail sportsbook locations at California’s tribal casinos. The second bill, Prop 27, was designed to permit online sportsbooks in CA such as the soon-to-open ESPN Bet to set up shop in the state in partnership with the tribal casinos.

Despite neither getting the required votes, California sports bettors are hopeful that the November 2024 voting season will go differently, despite likely continued opposition from lobbying groups and select tribal leaders. If sports betting legislation were to pass in the 2024 cycle, early 2025 could be when we first see legalized California sports betting.

As of November 2023, Barstool Sportsbook is live in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Registering at ESPN Bet in California and claiming their promo

Though ESPN Bet is not yet operational in California, we can look at the site's existing registration process to draw some conclusions on how to get signed up and begin wagering.

  1. Register for an account: Once the site goes live in California, we'll set up a link at the top of this page to access the ESPN Bet registration form. From there, enter your email address (or username) and chosen password, and set up any security questions that are required.
  2. Enter your personal information: With your basic login setup, you’ll need to enter some basic information which will include things such as first name, last name, birthday, home address, and certainly the last four of your Social Security number. This is the standard required information needed by regulated sportsbooks to verify your identity.
  3. Agree to privacy policy and terms: Now that they have your basic information, you’ll need to agree to the terms and conditions required to play on the site. With the boxes checked, you’re account should officially be created.
  4. Deposit funds and claim promo: Once your ESPN Bet Sportsbook California account has been created and verified, it’s time to deposit money into your account. After funding your account and making your first wager on the site, you will receive the welcome bonus within 72 hours.

The best features of ESPN Bet Sportsbook California

Though the ESPN Bet California sportsbook site is not yet live, with 2025 being the earliest we could see it, we can still draw some conclusions on what to expect in terms of features based on what the bookmaker offers in other states. Let’s take a look at some of the best features currently offered by ESPN Bet.

  • Great new customer promos: When new customers go to sign up for a new account, ESPN Bet likely won’t shy away from strong promo offerings. For ESPN Bet Sportsbook today, new customers receive up to a $200 in the form of bonus bets after their first wager of any kind on the platform.
  • Lucrative odds boost offers: With the backing of their ESPN media coverage behind them, ESPN Bet California can lean into the odds boosts on the sportsbook. Daily offers are already live for player props and daily parlays.
  • Live betting: Unlike other California sportsbooks where you will often have to search for live betting, ESPN Bet features a “Live” section prominently displayed on their top menu.

What is the ESPN Bet California promo?

Based on the offer in other states, we can expect the ESPN Bet California promo to be $200 in bonus bets following your first wager with the bookie after sports betting goes live in CA. Example: Sign up for a new ESPN Bet account, log into the platform, deposit at least $10 into your sportsbook bankroll, and make your first bet of any kind on the site. Within 72 hours of placing your wager, ESPN Bet will send four bonus bets valued at $50 each, totaling $200 in bonus bets to your account.

When will the ESPN Bet promo reach my account?

ESPN Bet will award the bonus bets to your account within 72 hours of making your first wager on the platform once sports betting launches in California. However, by that time, it's highly likely the welcome offer will change. For that reason, we encourage you to check back in with this site as the state's betting launch draws closer.

Conditions for the ESPN Bet bonus in other states

Surprisingly, there are minimal conditions for the ESPN Bet bonus in other states. Players are welcome to make their first wager on the platform in any market, on any sport, with any bet type and odds availability.

The only real "conditions" are that bonus bets will arrive within three days (72 hours) of making your first bet on the site, and that they will expire after seven days (168 hours) if left unused.

What do I do if the ESPN Bet California bonus is not working?

If you find that your ESPN Bet California bonus is not working as expected, the first thing you should do is check the terms and conditions to ensure you've met any necessary requirements. You will also want to restart the device on which you're wagering.

However, if those options don't work, and as stated directly in the terms and conditions, reach out to their Player Experience team via email. We will detail the support options later in this piece.

Where can I find the latest ESPN Bet California promotions?

When ESPN Bet California goes live, the best place to find their latest promotions will be on this very page. On their main page, you will find a top menu item titled “Promos” that will also list their current standard public offerings.

Different kinds of wagers on ESPN Bet Sportsbook

Given ESPN's size and reputation as the "Worldwide Leader in Sports," many first-time bettors will be flocking to ESPN Bet Sportsbook to make their very first sports bets. Below we briefly describe some of the different kinds of wagers available at ESPN Bet.

  • Moneyline: A moneyline bet is simply betting on which side will win the game. Teams with a negative (-) next to them are the favorites, while the positives (+) are the underdogs.
  • Over/under: Commonly referred to as a total, this bet is a wager on whether there will be more (over) or less (under) combined points score than the posted number.
  • Player props: Player prop bets are bets within a game, focused on a specific player. One such example is whether a quarterback will throw an interception or not, or if an NBA player will score more or less than a posted number of points.
  • Future bet: As the name implies, a future bet is a wager on something in the future, usually at the end of the season. These bets can be placed either before the season starts, or at least one week prior to the outcome you’re betting on.

Best sports you will be able to bet on using ESPN Bet California

With the launch of ESPN Bet California, residents of the biggest state in the Union will surely rush to bet on some of the biggest leagues and their favorite teams. Let’s take a quick peek at what to expect.

  • National Football League (NFL): The NFL rules the sports betting landscape in the fall, and all of California’s favorite teams including the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers will be available.
  • National Basketball Association (NBA): The Golden State Warriors are the state’s hottest team as of late, but the Los Angeles Lakers still have King James. Fans of the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings will be able to get in on the action as well.
  • Major League Baseball (MLB): Summer is for baseball in the U.S., and California’s teams usually stick around for fall baseball led by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Major League Soccer (MLS): Soccer continues to rise in popularity on this side of the drink, as California now sports three teams: the Los Angeles Football Club, LA Galaxy, and the San Jose Earthquakes. International leagues including the English Premier League and La Liga will also be available for California bettors.

The rules and laws for daily fantasy sports at ESPN Bet California

Despite sports betting being illegal in the state, daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests are allowed for the nearly 40 million residents that call California home. As the name would suggest, DFS is a form of fantasy sports that is focused on a given week, day, or event rather than a season-long competition.

While forming a daily fantasy roster for that day’s baseball slate is one example, another would be creating a DFS lineup for a specific UFC event. In general, you are assigned a bankroll for a given contest, and every player within the contest is assigned a salary value. You must form your team with your set bankroll, with the players that typically record the most points commanding the largest salaries.

Unlike online gambling, California, like other states, has no laws explicitly prohibiting DFS, and as such residents of the state are allowed to play them. If ESPN Bet California were to join the DFS market, they’d be going up against the likes of DraftKings DFS, FanDuel DFS, SuperDraft, Fliff Social Sportsbook, PrizePicks, and more.

The ESPN Bet mobile betting app in California

Mobile sports betting apps in California will be a hit from the day they go live in the state. With extreme ease of use, on-the-go betting, and fast load times, mobile betting apps have taken over as the preferred method of sports betting for an increasing number of bettors throughout the country.

How to download the ESPN Bet app on iOS

Here are the few steps required to download the ESPN Bet app when it launches in California for iOS devices.

  1. Go to the App Store: Open up the App Store on your iOS device and search for “ESPN Bet Sportsbook.”
  2. Install ESPN Bet: Once found in the app store, click on “Get” and then “Install,” enter your login information, and the download will start within seconds.
  3. Register or log in: If you haven’t yet registered, do so once the app loads. Once registered or logged in, it’s now time to place your first bet.

How to download the ESPN Bet app on Android

Android users will also be able to download the ESPN Bet app with ease, as we take a look at the likely few basic steps required.

  1. Go to the Google Play Store: On your Android device, open up the Google Play Store and search for the “ESPN Bet Sportsbook” app.
  2. Install ESPN Bet: Once you have found it, click “Install” for the app to start downloading.
  3. Register or log in: With the app now on your phone, register for an account or log in to an existing one to start your betting.

Will it be possible to bet on CA college sports with ESPN Bet Sportsbook?

California sports betting legislation will clarify whether or not CA college sports programs will be available for betting on ESPN Bet Sportsbook and others, but it is doubtful they will be allowed. Currently, Arizona, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C. have all put restrictions on in-state betting of college teams.

ESPN Bet California expected payment options

Transacting funds on and off a sportsbook is oftentimes one of the most important features for bettors to be aware of. Let’s take a closer look at the types of payment options to expect at ESPN Bet California.

Deposit

  • Debit/credit cards: Often with low minimums of $10, Visa and Mastercard are the standards in the industry.
  • Apple Pay: Exclusively for mobile app bettors, Apple Pay is a quick and easy way to deposit funds into your ESPN Bet account.
  • PayPal: My personal choice, the payment processor PayPal offers an instant deposit method with no fees and low minimums.

Withdrawal

  • Venmo: Similar to PayPal, Venmo is free and instant with a low minimum of $10.
  • Bank transfer: With all of the big U.S. banks included such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America, you can connect your bank login information directly to your ESPN Bet account wallet.

Customer support at ESPN Bet Sportsbook CA

It is still unknown what type of customer support ESPN Bet Sportsbook CA will offer, but we can draw some conclusions based on what PENN offers at Barstool Sportsbook. Currently, a 24/7 live chat, a call-back phone option, and an email contact form are the customer support options available.

Is college sports available on ESPN Bet Sportsbook in California?

No, California college sports programs will likely not be available on ESPN Bet Sportsbook in California. Other programs outside of the state, specifically in college football and college basketball, will be available for betting.

FAQ

What is the expected launch date for ESPN Bet's California online sportsbook?

The expected launch date for ESPN Bet’s California online sportsbook is sometime in 2025. First, ESPN Bet has to launch in late 2023, while November 2024 is the next time California residents can vote on sports betting legislation.

Can I bet on hockey at CA sports betting sites?

Yes, hockey will be available at CA sports betting sites, with a focus on the NHL.

Where can I find the best bonuses on ESPN Bet in CA?

You can find the best bonuses on ESPN Bet in CA right here in this review. Check back here when ESPN Bet in CA goes live.

When will ESPN Bet launch in CA?

The soonest ESPN Bet will launch in CA is 2025.

Will you have to live in California to bet on ESPN Bet?

Yes, you will have to live in California to bet on ESPN Bet California unless you already have an account in another state with ESPN Bet.

What is the minimum withdrawal at ESPN Bet?

The minimum withdrawal at ESPN Bet will be $10 if they adopt the standard that is in place at Barstool Sportsbook.

Author Details

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers is a sports betting expert and author at CASportsBettingSites.com. He has shared his betting predictions for almost a decade, and his work has been featured on various websites, including FantasyPros, Sportsbook Review, OddsChecker, Betting Pros, and many more.

Fact checked by: Gary Garry