LA is definitely the hotbed for sports, and subsequently sports betting, in California. With a massive population of 3.82 million people living in the city and 18.3 million in the surrounding areas, it should come as no surprise that the Los Angeles metropolitan area is home to two professional sports teams from each of the major leagues in North America.
This massive number of sports teams serving the LA area results in sports betting being a huge part of the culture in Los Angeles. The LA Lakers are one of the most storied teams in the NBA, and the same can be said about the Dodgers in the MLB. LA has two NFL teams, after many years without, with the Rams and Chargers now calling the city home. Add in the fact that the Clippers have built a team to contend for the NBA title and as a sports fan you have everything you could want right at your fingertips.
Is Sports Betting Legal in LA?
Setting up a sports betting operation and taking bets is not currently allowed in the State of California.
That said, it is perfectly legal for California residents to open accounts with offshore betting sites, such as the two I’ve outlined below. Both of these sportsbooks are licensed outside of the United States, while accepting American residents. In fact, Bovada, our top rated site, only accepts Americans so that they can completely cater their sportsbook to fit the needs of USA residents.
**There were two ballot measures related to sports betting voted on in California in November of 2022. Both propositions failed by a significant market, which means that legalized sports betting will not arrive in California in the near future.
Check out our California sports betting page for a more in depth look at the sports betting regulatory climate in the state.
Best Sportsbooks for Los Angeles Residents
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
These are our two top rated sportsbooks for LA residents. Both betting sites are extremely popular across the United States and offer a safe environment to place your sports betting wagers.
Offline Sports Betting in LA
Unfortunately, offline sports betting is not currently allowed in the State of California (as mentioned above – this could change soon). If you wish to place your sports wagers at a brick and mortar casino then you will have to cross the border into Nevada.
That said, California does allow you to place horse racing bets in the State, and two of California’s top race tracks are within a few minutes of Los Angeles.
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a quick 20 minute drive north-east of downtown LA. This is one of the most prestigious racetracks in all of the United States. The Breeders’ Cup has been held at Santa Anita Park eight times since 2008 (most recently in 2023), while the Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Handicap are two of the biggest races of the season.
You will be able to wager on live races almost daily at Santa Anita Park, and you are also given the opportunity to bet on other horse races from tracks across the country.
If you are unable to head to the track you can also place bets on the races at Santa Anita Park via either of the sportsbooks I recommend above.
***I should note that betting on sports is not offered at the racetrack.
Los Alamitos Race Course
If you live in south Los Angeles, Los Alamitos Race Course may be the more convenient track for you to visit if you wish to bet on some live racing. It is located about a half hour south-east of downtown LA. You are also able to place off track bets on other races from across the country at this location.
Major Sports Teams in Los Angeles
- LA Angels of Anaheim (Baseball – MLB)
- LA Dodgers (Baseball – MLB)
- Los Angeles FC (Soccer – MLS)
- LA Galaxy (Soccer – MLS)
- LA Clippers (Basketball – NBA)
- LA Lakers (Basketball – NBA)
- LA Chargers (Football – NFL)
- LA Rams (Football – NFL)
- Anaheim Ducks (Hockey – NHL)
- LA Kings (Hockey – NHL)