California sports betting and best DFS sites for 2026

If you're a resident or visitor in California, the prospect of betting on sports in the near future seems remote. With negotiations between the tribes and the state at a near-standstill, it most likely won't be until 2028 when residents of the state are able to vote again on sports betting. For now, California residents can get involved in wagering action by playing Daily Fantasy sports.

Additionally, those in California can make predictions on the game at Kalshi.

Recently, California Attorney General Rob Bonta declared DFS illegal, but Governor Gavin Newsom does not agree. For now, the fantasy industry isn't planning on ceasing operations in the state. California allows adults 18 and above to play DFS.

California Sports Betting News and Updates

Sports betting legalization is at a standstill in California as the state's tribes continue to oppose mobile sports betting. While several California lawmakers have tried to push forward bills for the legalization of in-person and mobile sports betting, both bills were shot down separately in the November 2022 election. The latest proposal in early 2025 came from DraftKings and FanDuel, who vowed to pay each of the state's 119 tribes a guaranteed minimum if sports betting were allowed. In the meantime, the earliest the state's residents could vote on a new measure would be 2026, but more likely 2028.

• 2018: The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned, allowing states to legalize sports betting on their own. A proposal to get sports betting on the ballot for 2020 was shot down by the state's attorney general.
  
  
• 2019: Two sports betting bills were proposed by state representatives which required two-thirds support from the legislature to make the November 2020 ballot. Meanwhile, at least 18 California tribes filed a petition called the California Sports Wagering Regulation and Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act, an attempt to get legal in-person sports betting on the ballot without having to go through the state general assembly.
  
  
• 2020: The COVID-19 shutdown slowed progress to a halt, but in December, the Tribes submitted 1.4 million signatures to the Secretary of State for their ballot initiative.
  
  
• 2021: Several California cities filed a ballot initiative that would've legalized mobile wagering to avoid the tribes forming a monopoly on sports betting (similar to the Seminole Tribe of Florida). The tribes eventually pushed against the initiative, citing that the proposal would "undermine tribal rights and self-sufficiency, while exposing Californians to major new risks." Sports betting lawsuits followed, claiming the tribal efforts were illegal.
  
  
• 2022: Two sports betting bills made it to the 2022 ballot: one permitting in-person betting, while the other would've allowed legal online wagering. Both the tribes and the mobile sports betting side ran campaigns to disparage the other's position, with negative ads being run throughout the state. In the end, both Propositions 26 and 27 were defeated on the ballot.
  
  
• 2023: The Pala Band of Mission Indians tried to file a sports betting initiative permitting online wagering. As of late October, there were two proposed ballot initiatives that would have given California Indian tribes exclusivity for both in-person and online sports betting.
  
  
• 2024: The latest initiative, co-sponsored by four of California's 110 tribes, was pulled before collecting any signatures. The earliest an initiative could be on the ballot is 2026 or more likely, 2028.
  
  
• 2025: In April, DraftKings and FanDuel proposed a unified plan with the state's tribes to introduce online sports betting legally in California. Under this plan, each of California's 109 tribes would receive a guaranteed minimum payment annually. There have been no further updates since.
  
  
• 2026: As of January 2026, California is still without legal sports betting, with both ballot initiatives and legislative efforts stalled. Residents continue using DFS and other alternatives in place of traditional sportsbooks.

What is DFS? Can residents of California play on DFS sites/apps?

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) gives users the opportunity to compete for prizes by creating and submitting lineups of athletes for a single day or week of games. DFS is focused on individual players and how they perform statistically as compared to the entire games themselves and their results. 

Unlike season-long leagues, DFS players can create entirely new rosters daily or weekly rather than managing relatively the same team over the course of the full season. Though there is current opposition from the state's attorney general and the long term future of daily fantasy sports in California is unclear, for now adults 18 and over are able to participate in DFS competitions.

Types of DFS contests

• 50/50 Contests – these are smaller competitions that are most beneficial for smaller players or those who are getting their feet wet with DFS. In a 50/50 contest, half the players in the competition will be declared winners and nearly double their entry fee. The other half will be declared losers and be awarded no prize money for the competition. Other variations include double-ups and head-to-head contests, where DFS users compete against less competition to win nearly double their entry fee.
  
  
• Tournaments – These are salary cap based competitions where users select a roster via salary cap to compete against a large quantity of competitors. The most experienced players know how to properly deviate their roster and avoid highly owned players by the public. The winners of these large competitions, who can take home in excess of $1 million for selected events, are generally those who are more seasoned DFS players. Users are allowed to submit more than one entry depending on the size of the competition.
  
  
• Pick'em Contests – These contests relate to selecting a player's statistical over or under that is determined by the DFS operator. A minimum of two players must be chosen depending on the rules of the contest, with the more players included, the higher the potential payout.
  
  
• Best Ball – Consider these competitions very similar to season-long fantasy leagues with one catch. Instead of the user submitting a starting lineup, Best Ball takes the best performances from that day or week's action and creates a team's lineup with those players. DFS users who play this popular format never have to worry about second-guessing themselves for questionable lineup decisions. As the season progresses, teams can advance through rounds, winning prize money in an attempt to capture the grand prize.

Breaking down the best DFS sites in California

California users have more than a number of DFS apps available for play in the state. Here are our preferred DFS sites in the state:

Underdog

Underdog Fantasy offers a bonus with code CBSSPORTS2. Once a new user registers in California, the welcome offer is Play $5 in Fantasy Entries, Get $50 in Fantasy Bonus Entries upon depositing. Recently, Underdog converted to a peer-to-peer format in the state, meaning users are now competing against one another for a pooled prize. This "Champions" format is hoping to satisfy California officials who ruled that a pick'em format was illegal in the state.

Daily promos are also frequently available at Underdog. 

Sleeper

Using Sleeper promo code CBSSPORTS, new users will receive a 100% deposit match up to $100. While known more for hosting season-long fantasy leagues, Sleeper offers Sleeper Picks, Picks and Daily Draft as its most popular DFS formats. The first two formats offer users the ability to predict over or under for between two and eight players' statistical outcomes. Daily Draft combines a live draft format with Best Ball, where the highest scoring team based on statistical performances over that period is the winner.

DraftKings Pick6

With no promo code required, play $5 on any DraftKings Pick6 contest and receive $50 in Pick6 bonus picks. Pick 6 users will choose between two and six players and predict whether they will record "more" or "less" than their projected stat totals. The payout size depends on how many correct picks a user makes from the available sports, including: NFL, College Football, NBA, College Basketball, MLB, NHL, Golf, NASCAR, and MMA.

ParlayPlay

Using ParlayPlay promo code CBSSPORTS, ParlayPlay is offering new customers a deposit match up to $100 plus a free entry into any $5 contest. Among the newer DFS sites, there isn't the variety of contests offered compared to others. But ParlayPlay still offers an attractive slate including peer-to-peer play and season-long projection DFS contests.

Boom Fantasy

New customers using the Boom Fantasy promo code CBSSPORTS will receive a No Sweat credit up to $100 in site credit for their first entry. This offer is different than the competitors, who mostly rely on deposit matches for an introductory offer. Boom Fantasy pick'em contests are different in that they offer multipliers, similar to profit boosts, for potential payouts. SquadRide lets users choose up to three players to combine to pass certain statistical milestones (for example: yards, points, strikeouts), with payouts at each milestone.

California sports teams to follow

While California residents aren't allowed to bet on any of their favorite teams while in the state, here is a list of the 15 professional teams from the four major sports. Residents or visitors in the state are allowed to use players from any of these teams for DFS action.

San Francisco 49ers (NFL)

Despite being ravaged by injuries in 2025, Kyle Shanahan kept the 49ers relevant all season. San Francisco went 12-5, made the playoffs as a Wild Card, and upset the defending champion Eagles before falling to Seattle in the Divisional Round. Christian McCaffrey remains one of the most versatile weapons in football, and with Brock Purdy healthy and new receiver Mike Evans added in free agency, the 49ers enter 2026 as an annual NFC contender. 

Los Angeles Rams (NFL)

The Rams are one of the NFC's elite teams, and 2025 was their best season in years. Quarterback Matthew Stafford won the NFL MVP award behind a lethal offense featuring wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and Los Angeles reached the NFC Championship Game before losing to Seattle. Under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams remain a perennial Super Bowl contender.

Los Angeles Chargers (NFL)

The Chargers have taken a major step forward under head coach Jim Harbaugh, finishing 11-6 and reaching the playoffs in 2025. Quarterback Justin Herbert continues to develop into one of the AFC's elite passers, and with a revamped offensive core around him, Los Angeles looks well-positioned to compete for a championship in the coming years.

Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

The Lakers are undergoing a generational transition, with Luka Dončić, signed to a long-term extension, taking over as the face of the franchise from LeBron James, who is in what may be his final NBA season on an expiring contract. The duo makes Los Angeles one of the West's most watchable teams, and Dončić's ceiling gives the franchise a legitimate foundation to build around for years.

Golden State Warriors (NBA)

The Warriors have reloaded around Stephen Curry with the addition of Jimmy Butler, giving Golden State a genuine three-headed threat alongside Curry and Draymond Green. Now in his late thirties, Curry's window is narrowing, but this group, when healthy, is capable of making a deep playoff run and remains one of the West's most compelling teams to bet on.

Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)

The Clippers are retooling around Kawhi Leonard after trading James Harden to Cleveland at the 2026 trade deadline, acquiring point guard Darius Garland in return. Leonard remains one of the game's best two-way players when healthy, and the Garland addition gives the franchise a younger foundational piece, making this a team in transition with an uncertain short-term ceiling.

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

The Kings remain an entertaining mid-tier Western Conference team built around center Domantas Sabonis and guard Zach LaVine, who give Sacramento a capable offensive core. The franchise continues to chase its first playoff series win in decades, and the team's long-term outlook depends on how far this core can take them in an increasingly competitive West.

Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) 

The Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champions (the first team to repeat since the 2000 Yankees), cementing their status as baseball's premier dynasty. Led by Shohei Ohtani, one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, alongside Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and a deep rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles is again the overwhelming favorite heading into 2026.

San Diego Padres (MLB)

The Padres have a star-studded lineup anchored by Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, and pushed the Dodgers down the stretch of the 2025 NL West race. Questions about rotation depth behind their top starters could limit their ceiling, but when this offense clicks, San Diego is capable of making October noise.

San Francisco Giants (MLB)

The Giants play in one of baseball's most pitcher-friendly parks and rely on ace Logan Webb and a disciplined approach to stay competitive in a tough division. San Francisco finished around .500 in 2025 and added veteran pieces in the offseason, but remains a step below the division's elite without a complete roster overhaul.

Athletics (MLB)

The Athletics are in the second of three planned seasons at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento before their new Las Vegas ballpark opens in 2028. Their young core, led by Nick Kurtz and outfielder Brent Rooker, gives the franchise a reason for optimism, even as the team remains several years away from contending in a loaded AL West.

Los Angeles Angels (MLB)

Mike Trout remains on the roster, but the Angels continue to struggle to surround the future Hall of Famer with enough talent to contend. Without a clear identity or consistent supporting cast, Los Angeles enters 2026 as one of the AL's more difficult teams to project.

Los Angeles Kings (NHL) 

The Kings are a fringe playoff team in a competitive Pacific Division, currently sitting around .500 mid-season. With captain Anze Kopitar in the later stages of his career and the franchise yet to break through past the first round since their 2014 Stanley Cup, LA's playoff ceiling remains a legitimate question heading into the back half of the season.

Anaheim Ducks (NHL)

The Ducks are still in rebuild mode after missing the playoffs for seven straight seasons, with no near-term path to contention in a loaded Pacific Division. The franchise is investing in developing its young roster, and the long-term outlook will depend on how quickly its pipeline of prospects matures.

San Jose Sharks (NHL)

The Sharks are one of the NHL's youngest teams, with the rebuild centered on Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, who is developing into a genuine franchise cornerstone in his first full NHL season. San Jose is hovering around .500 mid-season, a sign of progress, but contending for a playoff spot in the stacked Pacific Division remains a stretch goal for now.

College sports teams in California

Additionally, college teams are aplenty in California. The state has seven FBS football and 26 Division I basketball teams, though its Power Four Conference schools include:

UCLA Bruins (Big Ten)

A disappointing 5-7 football campaign under new coach Deshaun Foster in 2024 looks to be improved with new quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferring in from Tennessee. Both the men's and women's basketball teams made the NCAA Tournament last season, with the men losing in the Round of 32, while the women made it to the Final Four before losing to eventual national champion, UConn.

USC Trojans (Big Ten)

In their first year of Big Ten competition, USC football posted a 6-6 record during the 2024 regular season before a stunning Las Vegas Bowl victory over Texas A&M. The Trojans men's basketball team looks to make the NCAA Tournament after failing to do so each of the last two seasons and looks to be improved on paper. The women's team made the Elite Eight last season and has national championship expectations if star guard JuJu Watkins can return successfully from a knee injury suffered in the 2025 tournament.

California Golden Bears (ACC)

Similar to their Bay Area rivals, Stanford, the Golden Bears look to be subpar again this season in the two highest revenue sports, football and men's basketball. The additional cross country travel associated with being a part of the ACC does not help their chances of improvement in 2025-26.

Stanford Cardinal (ACC)

Despite being one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country, the school's football and men's basketball teams have struggled lately. The football team hasn't made a bowl game since 2018, while the basketball team has failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each year since 2014.

Responsible gaming in California

Here are two resources for problem gambling available in California:

National Problem Gambling Helpline:

Phone: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
Text: 800GAM
Chat: 1800gamblerchat.org

California Council on Problem Gambling:

Phone: 714-765-5804
Website: www.calpg.org

FAQ

Is sports betting legal in California?

No, and it's not likely to be legal in the state anytime soon. Fortunately, Daily Fantasy platforms are legal and offer welcome bonuses to California residents.

Is DraftKings legal in California?

DraftKings cannot be used for sports betting or casino games in the state. However, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests are allowed, as they are not considered traditional sports wagering.

Is FanDuel legal in California?

For sports betting and casino games, FanDuel is not permitted in the state. But DFS contests via FanDuel are allowed in California.

Can I use a sportsbook promo in California?

No, as legal sports betting is not permitted in the state.

Can I play DFS in California?

Daily Fantasy platforms are permitted within state lines and offer welcome bonuses to California residents.

Can you use a DFS promo in California?

Yes, each of the major DFS sites has an introductory promo, such as a deposit match or first bet insurance.

What are the best DFS sites in California?

We recommend Underdog, Sleeper, DraftKings, DraftKings Pick6, ParlayPlay, and Boom Fantasy as the top DFS sites in California.

How old do you have to be to play DFS in California?

California residents must be 18 or older to play DFS in the state.