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California is the most populated state in the U.S., with millions of sports fans and supporters. Yet, gambling is illegal in California, restricting sports enthusiasts from betting on their favorite teams and sports. Why is this so? Excluding just a few states, the Act of 1992 of the PASP (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection) nationally banned sports gambling. On May 14, 2018, the United States Supreme Court outlawed the whole statute as unconstitutional. Since sports betting has been legalized in many other states, sadly, California has yet to be one of them.
This means that if you’re looking for a state where you can bet freely and easily, California isn’t for you, as all types of casinos are prohibited in California. This article will explore why gambling isn’t legalized, the legalization efforts made so far, and the attempts to create a gambling bill in California.
Gambling: The History in California
In the 19th century, many people were enticed by the possibility of getting rich quickly, making the idea of gambling appealing. Because there were few jobs available for citizens at the time, the local gambling industry boomed alongside the gold rush in the U.S., thereby creating some level of social progress in the state. Some local gambling activities at the time were the California lottery, card games, and slot machines. However, these were quickly declared illegal, and the legislators tried to stunt development.
Gambling Isn’t Legal in California
Since sports betting was legalized in other states, these states have generated millions in revenue for their regions. For instance, in 2022, Sports betting in New York generated $693 million in tax revenue, while the state’s gross revenue was about $1.36 billion.
Unfortunately, California has refused to join the trend and tap into the wave. A proposition that was massively funded by the Natives would have gone a long way in making sports betting possible. This proposition was to legalize sports betting in California. However, it was rejected again, joining a long line of bills presented and rejected by the legislature for the same purpose.
According to the American Gaming Association, many sports will be played this year. However, sports enthusiasts in California will not be able to bet on them, at least not yet. This news is another big disappointment to many people—bettors and stakeholders alike—as a state with millions of sports fans, and enthusiasts is naturally expected to be in the lead regarding sports betting.
California is often considered a big deal, and why it has been left out of this trend raises many questions and remains hotly debated.
Sites to bet in California
Currently, there are no legal sites where bettors can place bets in California. However, some sites accept Californian gamblers. If you cannot wait until sports betting is legalized, you can check out the sites in the neighboring states where betting is permitted. On the other hand, although these offshore sites might look exciting and enticing to sports enthusiasts in California, it is advisable to refrain from using and indulging in them. This is because no consumer protections exist for your personal and financial information. Since these sites are overseen by someone other than government bodies, they can suffer subpar financial losses or technical issues that can significantly affect the users. Aside from these, they can hold onto winning withdrawals or, worse, sell users’ bank information to hackers and scammers, and they wouldn’t be answerable to anyone or suffer any form of repercussions.
Gambling Legalization Efforts in California
Gardens Casino, also known as Hawaiian Gardens Casino, is a renowned cardroom in Hawaiian Gardens, California. It became prominent after being founded in 1997 and became a regular destination for poker enthusiasts. The cardroom is known for its diversity of cardroom games and its commitment to providing fun for the local community. The Gardens Casino attempted in 2011 to create a gambling bill that would legalize gambling in California and allow them to run the cardroom in the state. However, the bill faced significant opposition from various stakeholders and higher bodies in the state, which focused on the negative social impact of gambling and other regulatory issues that arose, leading to its ultimate failure.
Over time, legislators have proposed several bills to legalize gambling in California, hoping to generate revenue. Whenever the state suffers a financial loss or issues, the bill is reintroduced, a carrot constantly dangled by proposing parties. In the 1990s alone, over 100 measures of gambling legalization were introduced by the legislatures. However, they still need to pass.
To reduce the perceived negativity that came with gambling, the legislatures had to consider the less harmful gambling ships.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Is Gambling Legal in California?
Aside from charitable gaming, the California State Lottery, Indian Casinos, and cardrooms, gambling remains illegal in California as commercial casino-style gaming stays banned.
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Can I use my mobile phone to Gamble in California?
Since betting isn’t legal in California, there are no betting options for mobile phones.
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Are there betting sites in California?
No! There need to be betting sites in California. Betting has yet to be legal, so there aren’t sites for bettors to stake their bets in California. Your only alternatives are the aforementioned offshore sites.
Conclusion
After the massive launch of gambling in other states, it is expected that sports gambling will soon be legalized in California. It might take a little longer than expected, but one thing is sure: the legalization of sports betting in California is like a waiting game that will happen someday. And what a day that would be!
The news and editorial staff of the Fort Bragg Advocate-News had no role in this post’s preparation. This is a paid advertisement and does not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Fort Bragg Advocate-News, its employees, or subsidiaries.
