Wagers are piling up ahead of Super Bowl LVIII’s epic rematch of the San Francisco 49ers and reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs, to be played — fittingly — in Las Vegas on Sunday. You can bet the farm on everything from who wins the game to the color of Gatorade dousing the winning coach.
But while Bay Area fans of the Red and Gold are being bombarded with pitches from major sportsbooks online and on TV, they won’t actually be able to get in on the action unless they hop a flight to Sin City or motor over the border to Nevada or another nearby state.
“There’s no legal sports betting in California yet, no authorized state-regulated way to just bet on San Francisco to win the game,” said Geoff Zochodne, an analyst for sports betting information hub Covers.
A number of states — including California’s nearest neighbors, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon — have allowed commercial sports gambling since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way in a 2018 decision. But with the notable exception of horse racing and fantasy sports, California remains among a dozen or so states that outlaw commercial sports betting, even at tribal casinos. And that’s not likely to change soon.
Gaming interests spent heavily on a pair of competing 2022 initiatives to allow sports betting either online or on-location at tribal casinos, and voters rejected both by large margins.
Late last year, a small group of entrepreneurs proposed a pair of initiatives aimed at the 2024 ballot that would legalize sports betting through California’s tribal casinos. But the state’s gaming tribes weren’t consulted and weren’t on board. Though the state says the proposed initiatives remain clear to begin signature-gathering,proponents have stopped responding to questions about them and the gaming tribes say they’ve been withdrawn.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be other efforts in the near future — California remains the biggest potential prize in the U.S. sports betting market — but legal sportsbooks in California remain years away.
“It’s too big of a market and there’s too much revenue and profit for people to not find some way to get it off the ground,” said Robert Linnehan, sports betting regulation expert and editor of Sports Betting Dime. “Tribes have said 2026 is another year they’d be interested in taking a look at it.”
For now, California tribes are closely watching how a legal battle plays out in Florida, where an effort to legalize sports betting through the Seminole tribe in 2021 is being challenged in court.
But 49ers fans who want to throw money at the game shouldn’t feel too left out. Missouri, home of the Chiefs, also banssports betting. New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania remain the top U.S. sports-betting states.
That this year’s Super Bowl is being played in Las Vegas wasn’t lost on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who warned league players and staff this week that “betting on NFL games or inside information or anything that would negatively impact the integrity of our game is absolutely off limits.”
Dr. Timothy Fong, an addiction psychiatrist and co-director of the University of California-Los Angeles Gambling Studies Program, said it’s hard to tell whether the growing presence of sports betting is spurring gambling addiction. A 2007 study indicated about 1% of people in California suffer from it. But he said even though California outlaws sports betting, its nearly overtaken slot machines as the state’s main avenue to addiction.
“Every year the Super Bowl does a lot to bring out those addictions,” Fong said.
So what are the options for Niners fans who feel lucky enough to bet what will be Grammy-winning halftime headliner Usher’s last song? For those who stay in California, there are unregulated offshore sportsbooks online, but the experts say beware.
“Nobody’s going to be knocking down your door if you bet $20 on an unregulated sports book,” Linnehan said. “But basically you have no consumer protection. Consumers are pretty much on their own giving their personal information and banking numbers to these books. If you get your identity stolen, who are you going to complain to?”
For those willing to travel, online sportsbooks operated by the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Fanatics and Caesars are available in many neighboring states. Those who set up accounts outside of California cannot place bets while they’re in the state, but can do so as soon as they cross the border.
Industry insiders like Raphael Esparza, global oddsmaker from Doc’s Sports Service, say there’s been intense interest in Super Bowl LVIII, with two teams closely matched and engaging “storylines.”
Will the 49ers avenge their loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV? Can Kansas City pull off back-to-back Super Bowl wins, something that’s only happened eight times? How will the Niners’ Mr. Irrelevant quarterback Brock Purdy stack up against the dynamic KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes? The sizzling romance between KC tight end Travis Kelce and pop phenom Taylor Swift — will she and Mahomes’ wife Brittany wear the same thing?
“It would not shock me if it breaks records for the most-bet Super Bowl,” Esparza said.
Fox Sports reported someone in Michigan bet $1 million on the Red and Gold, for which a win would net $833,333.
There also are myriad proposition or “prop” bets on just about anything imaginable. Fox Sports reported somebody in Michigan bet $100,000 on the pregame coin flip being tails, for which a win would net $95,238. And don’t forget the Swift factor — what she’ll wear, whether she’ll be shown on TV during the halftime show or mentioned in the postgame Most Valuable Player speech.
Esparza is betting the Grammy-winner will be driving more money into the sportsbooks. Why?
“There are more Swifties,” he said of Taylor’s devotees, “than 49ers fans.”
The California Department of Public Health advises that if you or someone you love is affected by gambling disorder, there is no-cost, confidential help available by phone at1-800-GAMBLER, by texting SUPPORT to 53342 and online at 800gambler.chat
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information on various topics, including sports betting and the legality of gambling in different states. I can provide you with insights and answer any questions you may have. Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.
Legal Sports Betting in California
The article mentions that there is currently no legal sports betting in California. While neighboring states like Nevada, Arizona, and Oregon have allowed commercial sports gambling since a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision, California remains one of the states that outlaw commercial sports betting, even at tribal casinos.
Efforts to legalize sports betting in California have faced challenges. In 2022, two initiatives were proposed to allow sports betting either online or at tribal casinos, but both were rejected by voters. Late last year, a small group of entrepreneurs proposed initiatives aimed at the 2024 ballot to legalize sports betting through California's tribal casinos, but the gaming tribes were not consulted and did not support these initiatives. The current status of these initiatives is unclear.
Despite the lack of legal sports betting options in California, there are alternatives available for those who want to place bets. Unregulated offshore sportsbooks are accessible online, but it's important to exercise caution when using these platforms. They lack consumer protection, and there is a risk of personal information and banking details being compromised.
Additionally, individuals in California can set up accounts with online sportsbooks operated by companies like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Fanatics, and Caesars in neighboring states. While they cannot place bets while physically located in California, they can do so as soon as they cross the state border.
Super Bowl LVIII and Betting Options
The article mentions that Super Bowl LVIII will feature a rematch between the San Francisco 49ers and the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. The game will be played in Las Vegas, which is significant given the city's association with gambling. The article also highlights the various betting options available for the Super Bowl, including traditional bets on the game's outcome and prop bets on specific events or occurrences during the game.
Proposition or "prop" bets are wagers on specific aspects of the game that are not directly related to the final outcome. These bets can range from predicting the color of Gatorade used to douse the winning coach to guessing the last song performed by the halftime headliner. There is a wide variety of prop bets available, including those related to player performances, halftime shows, and even mentions of specific individuals during postgame speeches.
It's worth noting that the popularity of Super Bowl betting has grown significantly in recent years, and there is intense interest in the event. Some experts predict that Super Bowl LVIII could break records for the most-bet Super Bowl.
Gambling Addiction and Resources
The article briefly mentions the potential impact of sports betting on gambling addiction. Dr. Timothy Fong, an addiction psychiatrist and co-director of the University of California-Los Angeles Gambling Studies Program, suggests that the growing presence of sports betting may contribute to gambling addiction. However, it is challenging to determine the exact relationship between sports betting and addiction.
For individuals affected by gambling disorder, the California Department of Public Health provides resources for confidential help. Support is available through phone assistance at 1-800-GAMBLER, by texting SUPPORT to 53342, and online at 800gambler.chat.
Conclusion
In summary, the article highlights the absence of legal sports betting in California and the options available for individuals who want to place bets on events like the Super Bowl. It also touches on the potential impact of sports betting on gambling addiction. Remember to exercise caution when using unregulated offshore sportsbooks and consider seeking help if you or someone you know is affected by gambling disorder.
Please note that the information provided is based on this article and may not reflect the most up-to-date developments in sports betting legislation.
