Sports Betting In San Francisco
- Bet On 49ers Super Bowl Odds In San Francisco Via Offshore Sportsbooks
- No Domestic Betting In San Francisco, California At This Time
- Legal CA Sports Betting Was Not Passed In November Of 2022
Despite previous legislative failures, you do have access to sports gambling in San Francisco. The area is host to five major sports franchises that have all tasted recent championship glory or are headed in that direction. Regardless of what whets the appetite of Bay Area bettors, you can wager on your favorite local teams through safe and legal offshore gambling sites accepting gamblers in San Francisco.
These offshore gambling sites cater to American gamblers who are looking for a legal avenue to bet on their favorite games, matches, contests, and events. This page will provide you with information about the professional teams in San Francisco and how you can legally get in on the sports betting action in California.
Is Bovada Legal In San Francisco?
Yes! Bovada operates with legal business and licensing credentials from within the gambling jurisdiction of Costa Rica. All of you San Francisco-based gamblers can place bets at Bovada's online sportsbook because there are no domestic gambling laws that say you cannot. Bovada is our highest-rated California gambling site and has been for over a decade.
Bovada Sportsbook #1 USA Betting Site
✔ Pros
- Welcome Bonus of 50% up to $1,000
- Operating From The Legal Jurisdiction Of Costa Rica
- Same Day Payouts with Bitcoin
- Options to Use Venmo, Paypal with Vouchers
- Also Offers Casino, Poker, and Horse Racing
- Wide Selection of Sports Coverage & Wagering Options
✘ Cons
- Does Not Accept Players From CO, CT, DC, DE, MD, MI, NJ, NV, NY, OH, or WV.
Best San Francisco Sportsbooks For 2024
Below is a list of the best online sportsbooks that accept gamblers in CA. These sites have been servicing the US betting industry for decades and are considered to be the most trusted and reliable options for gamblers located in all US states.
| Site Name | Current Bonus | Age | U.S. | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ |  | Visit Site Review |
| 2 |  | 125% Max $3,125 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
| 3 |  | 50% Max $250 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
| 4 |  | 100% Max $1,000 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
| 5 |  | 50% Max $1,000 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
| 6 |  | 50% Max $500 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
Is Sports Betting Legal In San Francisco?
PASPA(1992) was overturned in May 2018, opening the door for US states to legally regulate sports gambling services within their respective regions. California lawmakers have drafted several relevant bills, but they are still deciding how they want the services to operate inside the state.
For now, no law has passed allowing locally licensed betting inside the borders of CA, but there is plenty of interest in allowing it. While there are some USA gambling laws in place that relate to online gambling, there are no laws, state or federal, that apply to placing your wagers with the legal offshore sportsbooks suggested in this guide. San Francisco residents can place bets with these offshore gambling sites without fear of penalty.
Offshore Sports Betting In The Bay Area
For now, wagering on sports in San Francisco, California, can only be done with an offshore gambling site. That is because domestic CA sports betting was voted down in 2022, leaving international gambling sites as the top option. Below are a few reasons why offshore books will still reign supreme in the region, even if domestic gambling is made legal.
Offshore
- Open for business right now in September 2024
- 18 and older bay area bettors are allowed to join
- Bitcoin-friendly – Many different cryptocurrencies accepted
- Posts political odds and entertainment betting lines
Domestic
- Domestic sports gambling in CA could be years away
- No local San Francisco bookmakers as of 2024
- California sports betting measure voted down in 2022
Sportsbook Bonus Offers
A nice perk about sports gambling in San Francisco at the brands we've recommended is their lineup of incentives. They all offer sign up bonuses and promotions, and some of include reload bonuses as well. If you're using crypto to fund your account, you'll even get enhanced bonus amounts! Below you'll find a list of the current sportsbook promos at the sites we ourselves use all year round.
- Bovada Sign Up Bonus: 50% Deposit Match Up To $1000 – Use Bovada Bonus Code BVD1000
- MyBookie Sign Up Bonus: 100% Deposit Match Up To $1000 – Use MyBookie Promo Code MYB100
- BetUS Sign Up Bonus: 125% Deposit Match Up To $3,125 – Use BetUS Promo Code Join125
- Betonline Sign Up Bonus: 50% Deposit Match Up To $1000 - Use Betonline Promo Code BET1000
How To Deposit Funds Into Your Bay Area Sportsbook Account
Each of the online sportsbooks listed here features healthy portfolios of banking options. This includes major credit and debit cards, bank wire transfers, and person-to-person methods.
Cryptocurrency is also accepted at all of the offshore San Francisco sportsbooks we mention in this guide. Bitcoin is the most common altcoin accepted at these betting sites.
BTC and other forms of crypto transact without additional fees and arrive in accounts within minutes.
How To Withdraw Winnings From Your Online Sportsbook Account
Superior sportsbook banking involves receiving cash winnings immediately. The brands that we recommend to San Franciscans do not offer USD chargebacks to debit and credit cards, leaving bank wire transfers and cashier's checks as the most prominent cash payout methods.
We suggest that you consider withdrawing payouts with cryptocurrency. There are no fees attached, and same-day transactions are available in most cases. This goes for Bitcoin and most other forms of crypto, so click through to our top sportsbook sites to learn more.
Sports Betting Apps To Legally Use In CA
The best mobile sportsbooks available in the northern California area are listed right here on this page. Skip the Google Play and Apple App Stores and get straight to the action in SF by clicking on any sportsbook link provided above.
iPhones, iPads, Android tablets and smartphones are all capable of pulling up the latest betting odds for major pro and college leagues and placing a wager.
Every single perk and feature offered on the desktop versions of these sites is rendered through a responsive mobile sports betting app that is web based. Use your mobile device to click on any brand listed here for immediate access in San Fran.
iPhone Sports Betting In San Francisco
Placing bets on the San Francisco 49ers, Golden State Warriors, Giants, or any other major sporting entity around the planet can be done on iPhones or iPads in the bay area. California's best Apple-friendly sports betting apps feature detailed reviews that are linked to here. As long as your device still receives iOS updates, it is current enough for mobile wagering.
Android Sports Betting In San Francisco
Google Pixel, Samsung, and other major Android smartphones can pull up the best betting apps as long as you are connected to the web. The same goes for Android tablets as well. As long as a mobile browser is installed, it can be used to click on any sports gambling app we suggest for use. No download is needed. Just click and bet on your Android from anywhere in SF.
Live Betting At SF Sportsbooks
Most people are not aware that bets can be made on games after the clock has started running. This is called in-play or in-game betting, and the San Francisco sportsbooks endorsed here offer live lines on most major pro and college leagues around the world.
Bet on the point spread, moneyline odds to win, and the over/under, all while the competition is ongoing. Prop bets and futures typically remain live until concluded, qualifying them as in-game gambling odds as well.
Popular Local Teams To Bet On
Legally Betting On The San Francisco 49ers
No matter which sportsbook is utilized, odds for betting on the NFL are always going to be a part of the equation. The 49ers retain San Francisco as their base of operations but have played their home games at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, since 2014. The 49ers are one of the most successful NFL franchises in league history, regularly winning NFC West division titles and racking up five Super Bowl victories over the years.
When betting on the 49ers, the team is often featured atop the odds to win the Super Bowl each year as they have developed a solid team base and continuity among the coaching staff over the past few seasons. Although California has yet to debut domestic sportsbooks, offshore NFL gamlbing sites are currently able to handle all the pro football action fanatics can handle.
Legally Betting On The Golden State Warriors (NBA)
Formerly the San Francisco Warriors, Golden State's professional
basketball team has been in the Bay Area since 1962 after nearly two decades of play in Philadelphia. Since their arrival in California, they have advanced to the NBA Finals 8 times, winning 4 titles.
A bet on the Golden State Warriors to win it all has been a safe one as of late at the top NBA sportsbook sites. These online basketball betting sites feature odds, game lines, futures, and prop bets on the Warriors and all 29 other teams in the NBA.
Legally Betting On The San Francisco Giants (MLB)
San Francisco has been the home of the Giants since 1958. The Giants
have won eight World Series titles, three of them coming since 2010. Baseball gamblers in the bay area that want to bet on the Giants can do so at any of the online MLB sportsbooks listed here.
These MLB betting sites feature game lines for the entire Giants schedule, including the postseason and World Series, should they make it that far. The same baseball wagering options are offered on all other MLB teams as well from any web-ready device in No-Cal.
Legally Betting On The Stanford Cardinals
Stanford's campus is located in Stanford, California, which is 35 miles from downtown San Francisco. The Stanford Cardinals are members of the Pac-12 Conference and compete highly in college football and baseball. 
They claim two NCAAF Championships from way back in 1926 and 1940. The Cardinals also won a college basketball National Championship in 1946.
The Cardinals have had more recent success in college baseball, winning back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988. If you're in or near Stanford, CA, and are interested in betting on college football, basketball, or NCAA baseball, be sure to do so with one of the sportsbooks listed above. They provide reliable online gambling services with payouts that are guaranteed.
Legally Betting On The Cal-Berkeley Golden Bears
Much like Stanford, Cal-Berkeley plays in the Pac-12 Conference and experienced success on a national level many decades ago. 
The Cal Golden Bears won five National Championships in college football between 1920 and 1937 and cut down the nets at the end of the NCAA Basketball Tournament in 1959. The Golden Bears were also winners of the College Baseball World Series in 1947 and 1957.
If you want to bet on college basketball, NCAAF, or any other amateur sport, the San Francisco sportsbooks we endorse here at SBL are the best in northern California. No matter if you want to bet on the Cal Golden Bears or any other NCAA team, it can be done legally with the SF gambling sites we recommend.
Legally Betting On The Oakland Athletics
The Oakland A's have played across the bay from San Francisco since
1968. The Oakland Athletics play in the American League, they still have a fierce interleague rivalry with the Giants. Like the Giants, The A's have also won the World Series, earning nine championships during their entire history, which dates back to Philadelphia.
Betting on the World Series is popular each October, but gamblers in the San Francisco region don't have to wait until then to wager on MLB odds. Placing bets on the Oakland A's can occur year-round thanks to MLB futures that feature odds all all 30 franchises and pays out once the World Series concludes.
Legally Betting On The San Jose Sharks (NHL)
San Jose is just under an hour's drive from San Francisco, but the
Sharks' home ice is located in the SAP Center, which is within a few miles of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (where the NFL's 49ers play).
The San Jose Sharks were founded in 1991 and have yet to capture a Stanley Cup trophy. Legally betting on the NHL can occur in San Francisco or in San Jose using international sportsbook sites. We've compiled a list of the best gambling sites above featuring San Jose Sharks odds.
Betting On The San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
The Earthquakes also play their games within a stone's throw of Levi's
Stadium. They have a long storied history in the region, coming in and out of operation several times since their first incarnation in the early 1970s.
Placing bets on the San Jose Earthquakes has become a popular local tradition. If you are in the area and want to partake in legally betting on MLS, check out the reviews of our top online sportsbooks listed here. Each of them offers betting lines for all Earthquakes games.
FAQs
Local Sportsbooks Accepting San Francisco Bettors
California does not allow for locally licensed betting as of September 2024. A 2022 ballot initiative was voted down in CA, making the outlook grim for any domestic sports gambling presence in San Francisco. There is interest in local books in CA, but it could take many years to come to fruition.
Sportsbooks Near San Francisco
Those that want to travel to the domestic sportsbook that is closest to San Francisco will have to venture to Reno, Nevada. It is a 3.5-hour drive from SF to Reno, which features a miniature casino strip similar to that of Las Vegas. Gamblers that have reached the age of 21 are permitted to bet on sports in Nevada at a domestic book.
Other California Sports Betting Cities
Regional Professional Teams
- The Oakland A's (MLB)
