Horse race betting in California has a rich and storied history. The famed Santa Anita Park thoroughbred race track in Arcadia is the showcase of some of the biggest and most important racing events in the United States. The track was opened in 1934, and is the oldest racetrack in Southern California.

The tangible benefits of online gambling legislation in California number in the billions. It is estimated that Californians place around $10 billion or more annually in illegal wagers.

In 1933, California passed legislation allowing pari-mutuel wagering, and it is no coincidence that this particular racetrack with its gorgeous backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains – considered by many horse racing aficionados as the most beautiful racetrack in the world – was opened only one year after that gambling legislation was put into effect.

Today, there are half a dozen or so California horse race tracks and numerous OTB (off-track betting) locations. However, not everyone who wants to play the ponies can do so conveniently at these retail venues. For that, California online horse betting allows access without having to travel to Santa Anita Park or any of the other five racetracks in the state.

Thoroughbred horse racing has also become an intricate part of the California online betting platform, available at multiple online sportsbooks and casinos that accept CA players. You will often see CA online poker betting available on these sites as well.

Can I Legally Bet on Horses in California?

When it comes to horse betting, California gamblers have access to a regulated and approved gambling market in the state. The California Horse Racing Board is the regulatory body that governs horse racing in both brick-and-mortar and domestic online capacities. They allow the state's horse tracks to offer online wagering, and tracks like the Del Mar Turf Club have handy horse racing apps for iPhone and Android.

California Daily Fantasy Daily fantasy betting in California is the only option for wagering online. Although daily fantasy has not officially been legalized, the state assembly overwhelmingly passed a DFS bill, but a law has yet to be formalized. The state of California does not legalize, regulate, license, or authorize any California sports betting sites. The state does not offer its residents any legal California sports betting sites. Even though they were on track to make online betting USA legal in California before the end of 2020.

Is Online Horse Betting Legal In California At Offshore Sites?

Yes! And for most horseplayers, this is by far the best option. California online horse betting has the advantage of offering 24/7 access to domestic and international tracks from any computer or smartphone with an Internet connection, which is something that horse racing betting in CA at land-based tracks simply cannot match.

For online horse betting, California residents can wager with the following offshore racebooks. Each of these books features tracks from the US, Canada, Mexico, England, Ireland, Japan, the Middle East, and more. We have approved each of these racebooks through a careful review process that determines the legitimacy of each site and the quality of their CA betting options.

California Online Betting Laws

Industry Leading Online Racebooks Accepting Bettors From California

Our Recommended Online Racebook for California Bettors

Bovada is America's favorite online gambling site, and it features a robust racebook as part of their Internet casino experience. CA residents and visitors can legally place wagers on thoroughbred horse races that are held at horse tracks in California, including the Delmar, Santa Anita Park, and Hollywood racetracks, as well as multiple racetracks throughout the United States and internationally. At Bovada, you'll be able to bet on the ponies nearly every day, all year round!

Online Sportsbook California

By opening an account at Bovada, you can take advantage of horse racing rebates, and you can accept a $250 Sports Welcome Bonus that can be used at their racebook, as well. Because the website is based outside the United States in Costa Rica (operating under the license of the renowned Bodog brand), California online horse betting is legal and safe with this provider.

Sportsbook Betting California

Off-Track Betting on Horses in California

California Sports Betting Online

Simulcast betting is a horse racing platform that allows gamblers to wager at off track betting (OTB) facilities. OTB horse racing isn't available online, as bettors must be at physical brick-and-mortar facilities to wager on live races being held elsewhere. These venues also broadcast the races themselves, and they often feature meets from many different states.

With approximately two dozen California off-track betting locations, residents and visitors can more easily bet horses than in years past. Still, for true convenience, nothing beats the multiple California casino betting options listed here, as each offers California online horse betting as part of their virtual casino and sports betting experiences.

Live Land Based Horse Betting vs California Online Racebooks

Nothing can beat the physical thrill of gambling at a beautiful and historically important racetrack. You can place a bet, have a drink, hear the thundering hooves of the powerful thoroughbreds sprinting out of the gate and rocketing down the homestretch, enjoy some fine dining, and interact with other like-minded individuals. The experience that is second to none.

But for those who can't make it to the track and don't care for OTB California betting, offshore racebooks are the best solution. At these sites, you can get the exciting rush of California online horse betting no matter where you are in the Golden State. Like the great Secretariat, that kind of convenience is king, and because it's legal, you'll never get a Citation for participating. Whether online or off, horse race betting in California is a hot tip on a can't miss sure thing.