California sports betting remains controversial, according to a poll conducted in August 2025.
A POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey of more than 1,400 registered voters found that just 25% of Californians want sports betting to be legal.
The poll found that 35% said it “might make sense,” while 40% don’t want it legalized.
Sports betting is a polarizing political issue because the apps are addictive by design. Betting addiction statistics show that more than 50% of online bettors have chased losses.
A 2024 University of California study found that legalizing sports betting hurts the financial health of a state’s population.
According to the survey, the 40% of respondents who opposed legalization selected responses that expressed concern about sports betting addiction.
To make matters worse for sports betting proponents, research has shown that the online betting industry creates very few jobs. Nearly half of Americans think sports betting is bad for society.
California Voters Reject Sports Betting
Sports betting has been unpopular as public policy in recent years.
In 2022, Californians soundly rejected two ballot questions related to sports betting.
Nearly 67% of voters rejected California Prop 26, which would have legalized sports betting on American Indian lands.
Meanwhile, 82% of voters rejected California Prop 27, which would have allowed online sports betting apps like DraftKings and FanDuel.
Prop 27 supporters pitched it as being part of the solution to California homelessness. Addiction, including gambling, can lead to homelessness.
The online sports betting proposition, which sought to undermine California’s tribes who own casinos, raised over $169 million, with top donors including FanDuel and DraftKings.
Unpacking the California Sports Betting Poll
The online betting industry might try to use the POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey to show that Californians are ready for legalization.
But Golden State residents are not.
While the poll results appear to be better than the resounding defeats of the 2022 ballot questions, it’s clear that California doesn’t want online sports gambling.
One online gambling affiliate website wrote of the recent survey: “60% of 1,400 registered California voters are in favor of legalized sports betting.”
It’s a stretch to say that the 35% who are undecided are “in favor” of the policy. Sports betting legalization surveys are often fundamentally flawed, and they’re usually leveraged to support policy.
What’s Next for CA Sports Betting
The online betting industry suffered a humiliating defeat at the ballot box in 2022.
It became clear that the California tribal gambling industry is too powerful and united. They won’t allow betting app firms to seize part of their turf.
As part of the turf war, California Attorney General Rob Bonta wrote in July 2025 that daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms (for example, PrizePicks) constitute illegal sports gambling under state law.
A potential compromise between the tribes and the betting app industry is being explored, according to reports. Online sports gambling is far more popular and lucrative than in-person sports betting.
The earliest California could legalize sports betting would be at the ballot box in 2026.
New Enemies in Town
So-called “prediction” platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket have circumvented California law to offer online sports betting.
In August 2025, Robinhood announced the launch of nationwide NFL betting under a partnership with Kalshi.
Also in August, California policymakers were considering legislation to ban so-called sweepstakes sportsbooks, such as Sportzino, Fliff Sportsbook and Stake, which have used a free-play loophole to circumvent state law. In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the California sweepstakes casino ban.
There are also the familiar foes in the form of offshore online sportsbooks such as BetOnline and Bovada, which cause similar harm to Californians. Offshore books also recklessly take bets on children, like the Little League World Series.
Sports betting is already present in California.
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