It’s been a good decade to be a sports fan in Oakland. The Golden State Warriors, who played out of Oracle Arena in Oakland until 2019, have won four NBA Championships over the past decade (three in Oakland). The Warriors are coming off an NBA Championship win in 2022 and should continue to be contenders for the next several years.
The Warriors moved to Chase Center in 2019, but a quick half hour jaunt across the I-80 can get you to San Francisco where you can take in a Warriors game or a Giants ball game at Oracle Park. You also have the option to catch an NFL, NHL or MLS game down in San Jose, which is only about an hour drive. Overall, Oakland is a great spot to be a sports fan in California. Unfortunately, the State of California does not allow you to bet on any of these sports at California based casinos. Instead you’ll need to open an account at an offline sports betting site to place your wagers.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Oakland?
It is not legal to set up a betting operation that takes wagers in the State of California.
There were two ballot measures related to sports betting voted on in the State of California in November of 2022. Both ballot measures failed by significant margins and it’s unlikely that sports betting will return to the ballot in 2024. It does not look like regulated sports betting is imminent in California. Learn more on our California betting page.
That said, it is legal for California residents to open an online betting account at an offshore sportsbook, such as the ones I’ve outlined below. These sportsbooks are licensed outside of the United States, which allows them to safely and securely offer sports betting options to American residents.
Best Sports Betting Sites for Oakland Residents
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
Above are our two recommended betting sites for Oakland residents. Both Bovada and BetOnline are hugely popular across the United States and offer a safe and secure environment for Americans to wager on sports online.
Offline Sports Betting in Oakland
There is currently no offline sports betting allowed in California. In order to wager on sports at a brick and mortar casino you will need to venture across state lines into Nevada.
That said, the State of California does allow you to wager on horse races in Oakland. I’ve outlined a very popular horse race track very close to Oakland below.
Golden Gate Fields
Golden Gate Fields is a popular horse racing track located a quick 15 minute drive north of Oakland. The racetrack offers live racing most days of the week, and also allows you to wager on races from other top tracks across California and the United States.
***You are not able to place sports betting wagers at Golden Gate Fields. Your wagers are restricted to horse racing at all tracks across California.
Oakland Major Sports Teams
- Golden State Warriors (NBA)
- Oakland Athletics (MLB)
How To Bet On Sports Online From Oakland
Follow this quick and simple three step guide to get sports bets placed online if you live in Oakland.
Step 1. Join Bovada.lv
Click the above link and complete the overlay sign up form on the home page to open your account.
Step 2. Deposit
After logging into your account click on the ‘Deposit’ link under your accounts drop down menu. Select the deposit method, enter your deposit amount, and follow the instructions to fund your account.
Bovada accepts deposits via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more.
Step 3. Place Your Bets
- Click ‘Sports’ from the top menu bar on the Bovada website.
- Select the sport you want to bet on from the ‘All Sports A-Z’ menu.
- Select the competition or league you want to bet on from the sport specific menu in the left sidebar.
- Select the odds of the bet you want to make to add it to your Bet Slip.
- Enter your risk amount on the Bet Slip and click ‘Place Bet’ to make your wager.
Ready to bet from Oakland? Click here to visit Bovada.lv.