California Horse Race Betting

Online wagering is currently offered to California residents by seven licensed websites in 2023, that also have bonus offers, promotions and rewards. Here is a list of all California’s betting apps.

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Horse racing in California has long been an institution in the state and remains so to this day. There are dozens of tracks located throughout the state. In fact, horse racing is so popular in the state, California is one of the few states to offer legal online horse racing through sites such as TVG and TwinSpires.

These sites also simulcast races from other states and around the world. Santa Anita remains the state’s biggest track, but playing the ponies online is just as popular.   

While California has tribal casinos, card clubs, and a lottery, it is likely at least a year or two away from authorizing legalized sports betting. If and when that happens, many more operators are likely to flock to the state, one of the biggest markets in the U.S. That includes daily fantasy sports operators DraftKings.com and FanDuel.com, which already are expanding aggressively in states that have made sports betting legal.

California has many gambling options, and betting on horse races in the Golden State has been legal for decades. That’s not surprising given the state is home to some of the highest-profile thoroughbred horse racing tracks in the U.S.

Notable horse racing tracks in California:

  • Del Mar, the seaside oval north of San Diego founded by Bing Crosby and his clambake buddies;
  • Santa Anita Park, tucked beneath the San Gabriel Mountains in the Los Angeles metro area; 
  • Golden Gate Fields, overlooking the San Francisco Bay.
  • Golden Gate Fields Racetrack, opened in the year 1941 and is currently owned by the Stronach Group.

It also hosts quarter horse racing at Los Alamitos and has numerous fairground tracks and an off-track wagering network.

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