We look at weather or not DraftKings is legal in the US or not
Is DraftKings Legal in California? CA Gambling Updates
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Fast Withdrawals DraftKings is one of the premier online gambling providers in the USA, and it has a plethora of sports wagering and online casino platforms in different states. As a California player, you will be keen to know if this platform is available in your state. At this point in time, it is not. California sports betting and online casino laws make online casinos and sportsbooks 100% illegal.
Regardless, you can still visit the DraftKings sports betting and online casino websites to see what they have to offer – you can’t create an account, deposit money, or accept bets.
Important Pointers to Remember for California Gambling
It is really tempting to use geolocation software or offshore betting sites due to California sports betting and casino laws. However, we MUST advise against this.
Using any software to bypass state laws is a criminal offense and could land you in prison. Additionally, many offshore casinos and sportsbooks have poor reputations and do not operate ethically. They can do this, too, because they aren’t tied down by US gambling laws.
We understand that this is frustrating, but it’s never a good idea to try and bypass state laws and regulations – they are generally there to protect you.
There are alternatives to DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino. 100% legal and equally fun to play at.
As you will see below, all hope is not lost. DraftKings sportsbook and casino are not legal in California, but you have other options. For example, there are some fantastic social casinos like Pulsz and Fortune Coins, which we will describe in more detail later. These are completely legal and fall under sweepstakes laws.
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CA Gambling Laws
- The California Gambling Control Commission is responsible for regulating all gambling activities in California.
- Cardrooms for blackjack and baccarat games are available in CA, but modern ones haven’t been created.
- There are 65+ tribal casinos in California, mainly situated on Native American reservations. These are legal after the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts 1999 bill was revisited.
- Daily Fantasy Sports are mainly legal in the state.
- Rest gambling activities are still illegal in California, despite the overturning of PASPA and several states legalizing online sports gambling. As a result, DK Casino and Sportsbook are illegal in the state.
Continue for additional details and legal alternatives.
Is DraftKings Casino Legal in California?
DraftKings has a superb online casino, and it is one of the best available for US players. However, like sports gambling, online casinos are illegal in California.
Therefore, you can’t create a DraftKings account if you live in the Golden State. DraftKings Casino legal states are Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Betting in California, in general, is incredibly regulated, and it is not likely to change soon. If sports betting laws and online casino laws ever changed, DraftKings Casino would be one of our top picks. It is a well-equipped platform and has much to offer in terms of games, promotions, and accessibility, which we describe below.
Game Selection
One of the best aspects that you can expect from DraftKings California if it ever happens, is the game selection. They have over 900 games from reputable software developers, including the following categories:
- DraftKings Video slots
- Table games
- Video poker
- Progressive and Local DraftKings Jackpots
- Three DK Exclusive Keno
- Live dealer games
I love their selection of video slots, which includes over 900 titles. Popular mentions include Hyper Nova Megaways, Total Meltdown, Fortune Coin, and Bonanza. There is a range of official DraftKings card games, too, like DraftKings Baseball Blackjack and DraftKings Basketball Blackjack. Check out our DraftKings Blackjack guide for more information about it.
Promotions
Like the sportsbook, DraftKings casino has some great promotions. Currently, there is a free sign up bonus of $50 that you get, together with a 100% deposit bonus casino of up to $2,000. They also have a fantastic refer-a-friend scheme and sometimes have limited-time promotions too.
Mobile App
When the legal status of online casinos changes in California, you will be able to access DraftKings online casino from multiple devices too. Primarily it is available on desktop computers and laptops.
However, there is also a dedicated mobile casino app that you can download on Android and iOS devices. This gives you a smooth and fun gaming experience and means you can play your favorite casino games whenever and wherever.
Is DraftKings Sportsbook Legal in California?
The DraftKings Sportsbook app and desktop version are not legal in California, unfortunately. This is due to the nature of regulated sports betting in the Golden State and the fact that virtually all forms of online gambling are illegal.
You can enjoy legalized sports betting on DraftKings in Oregon, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
Hopefully, this will change in time, but we don’t expect it to be soon. This is a shame as there are some fantastic California sports teams to support and bet on, including the Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Los Angeles Kings. Also, DraftKings sportsbook is pretty damn good and has a lot to offer!
When sports betting legalization changes in California, you want to be prepared and know what awaits at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Betting Market Coverage
Firstly, DraftKings covers an amazing range of sports and all your favorite CA teams, including the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors. The following are some of the most popular sports and leagues available:
You can expect coverage of all the major tournaments and leagues, too, including the NBA Playoffs and Finals, the Super Bowl, and even college football and basketball. The variety of sporting events is superb, and regardless of what you enjoy, you should be able to find leagues and pro sports teams on DraftKings.
Betting Types
While the game coverage is important, betting sites need to offer a good selection of wager types too. This is something DraftKings does well. If DraftKings California goes live, you can place multiple wagers in your bet slip, including:
- Spread Bets
- Total Points
- Moneylines
- League winner
- Division winner
- Draftkings props
Furthermore, for some sports like the NBA, there are incredibly detailed bets for individual statistics. For example, you could bet on DeAron Fox of the Sacramento Kings to score over 20.5pts. This adds so much more depth and fun to your bet slip and betting experience.
Sportsbook Bonuses
When online sports betting is available in California, DraftKings will make your money go further, too. They always have a great selection of promotions that both new and existing customers can benefit from. Check out our DraftKings sportsbook promotions guide for more details about it.
For example, currently, there is a brilliant welcome offer that gives a 20% deposit bonus up to $1,000 and $50 in free bets! Of course, there are terms and conditions to consider, but this is a great welcome offer for new sports gambling customers.
Is Online Gambling Legal in California?
In short, no. Sports betting in California is illegal. Online casinos are also illegal in California. The state has incredibly strict online gambling laws and has been that way for decades.
Currently, the following are the only forms of legal betting in California:
- Cardrooms
- Tribal Casinos
- California State Lottery
- Horse Race Betting
- Charitable Gaming
- Sweepstakes Casinos
- Daily Fantasy Sports Betting
All forms of commercial casino-style gaming are prohibited. Licenses and regulations are controlled by both the California Bureau of Gambling Control and the California Gambling Control Commission.
Currently, it is unlikely that sports betting legalization will happen in CA. This is due to tough opposition from lobby groups and government stakeholders.
When Will DraftKings CA go Live?
The earliest possible date that sports betting in California could happen is 2024. However, we do not expect this to transpire.
There have been various attempts to make sports betting legal, but they have been met with heavy opposition and have ultimately failed. For example, there were two ballot measures in November 2022, but both of these failed.
It is believed that it will take a constitutional amendment to make online sports betting legal in CA. This process can take years and will be put to a public ballot vote.
However, it is not as simple as that. Those who want to legalize sports betting and online casinos have tough opposition in the form of lobbyists and Native American tribal coalitions. As a result, any attempted resolution or bill is usually squashed quickly.
Up to this date, there has been little to no mention of any state legislature relating to online gambling.
Legal DraftKings CA Alternatives for Online Gambling
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Don’t worry, and don’t be disheartened! California players still have options available, and gambling isn’t completely unavailable.
There are, of course, many land-based gambling ventures available in the state, such as horse racing at Los Alamitos Race Course or Santa Anita Park. Alternatively, you can visit the various Native American casinos like the Pechanga Resort Casino and the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, which is actually a sponsor of the Los Angeles Lakers!
If you don’t want to travel and want the convenience of gambling from your home or smartphone, there are two other options – sweepstakes casinos and daily fantasy sports betting.
Online Sweepstake Casinos
A relatively new type of online platform that is rising in prominence is sweepstakes casinos or social casinos. These are thriving because sweepstakes laws are widely accepted; thus, sweepstakes casinos are legal in all US states except Washington.
These betting sites use virtual currency instead of real money, and thus, you are playing for fun and not cash prizes. You typically earn virtual currency (usually called gold coins) by logging in, playing games, and through other things like social media activity.
Many of the platforms have a wide range of traditional casino games, including video slots, table games, and poker. Some notable sweepstakes casinos available for the California market include:
There is usually the option to buy coin packages for real money – but this is always optional, and you can always play for free. Also, some of the platforms have prize draws and contest entries where you can win their premium currency that can be converted into real cash withdrawals.
- Pulsz is a great example and offers Golden State players the chance to play over 300 different casino games. This includes some well-known titles like Diamond Strike, Buffalo King, and Black Wolf. They even have a range of Megaways slots. They have a high-quality mobile app, too, so you can enjoy playing games wherever you go.
- Fortune Coins is another top pick for the Golden State and gives you a range of progressive jackpots where you can win huge amounts of gold coins to continue playing. For example, at the time of writing this, their game Lucky Panda had a jackpot of over 8 million gold coins! They also have a couple of fun fish-catching games that offer something different from traditional slot games.
- Stake.us is an excellent option for players who want to play slots, live casino games, and games like Crash and Plinko. Cryptocurrencies are supported here for deposits and withdrawals, and you get to play the best Stake Original slots legally from CA.
Daily Fantasy Sports Betting
DraftKings is actually best known for its DFS – Daily Fantasy Sports. These are amazing fantasy competitions and leagues that anyone can participate in.
They take the simple premise of fantasy sports leagues but add in the potential to win epic real-money prizes! DFS is legal in California and one of the best legal sports betting options currently available in the Golden State, with DraftKings pools paying out millions!
FAQs
What happens if I use DraftKings in California?
If you try to use the DraftKings mobile sports betting to bet on teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Angels or use the online casino, you will not be able to complete the registration process.
You should still be able to view the website and look at the different things the legal online sportsbook has to offer and the variety of online casino games, but you have no real money access to DraftKings. During the registration process, you have to enter your address - once it sees you are from CA, you won't be able to proceed further.
Can You bet on the DraftKings Sportsbook from CA?
No. Sports betting remains illegal in the Golden State, and DraftKings sports betting in California is not possible. At the moment, sports betting legislation is unlikely to change in the state either.
If you access the DraftKings sportsbook app, you will not be able to register an account or place any wagers. You can still view the different matches available and sports covered, but take no gambling action.
Is Online Gambling Legal in CA?
No. Currently, California sports bettors and online casino enthusiasts have virtually no options for enjoyment available in the state. Online casinos are not legal, and sports betting isn't legal either.
If you want to enjoy gambling pursuits, you can play at legal social casinos, go to the horse racing tracks, or visit one of the brick-and-mortar casino venues in Native American tribe land and poker rooms.
Can I Bet on DraftKings DFS in California?
Yes! There is a strange gray area in California gambling laws that don't really cover daily fantasy sports betting.
There is currently no specific law from the Supreme Court or California State government that prohibits daily fantasy sports betting. Nor is there any law that legitimizes it. As a result, DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports continues to operate and accept customers from the Golden State.
