Betting On Basketball in California
California sports betting on basketball means dozens of professional and college opportunities. The National Basketball Association claims 4 Golden State pro teams, all battling it out in the same division. And NCAA Division I basketball, for both men and women, shows 2 dozen teams with basketball programs. This guide is designed to provide you with everything you need to make informed decisions concerning your CA basketball betting options, highlighting just a few of the top round ball teams you can bet on that are located in California. We have also created a similar guide for California football betting.
Top Sportsbooks for Betting on California Basketball Teams
The following sportsbooks have each been vetted by our team of industry professionals, and are verified to hold legal licensing, utilize a sophisticated security profile, and offer an overall high quality basketball betting experience online that closely resembles the experience you would have at a Vegas sportsbook destination, only with more options. These sites are among the top rated US friendly online sports betting sites in the business, and all offer competitive betting lines that cover California NBA and NCAAB basketball teams.
| Sportsbook Name | New Players Promotion | USA Friendly? |
| Bovada Sports | 50% Match Bonus Up To $250 | Yes |
| BetOnline Sports | 25% Match Bonus Up To $1000 | Yes |
| Sportsbetting.ag | 25% Match Bonus Up To $1000 | Yes |
| Bookmaker Sportsbook | 15% Match Bonus Up To $2500 | Yes |
| Topbet Sportsbook | 50% Match Bonus Up To $250 | Yes |
Is Betting on Basketball Legal in California?
You will not find any type of brick and mortar destination at which to bet on basketball or any other sport in California. This is because the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is a federal law which limits all US based sports betting to four select destination, and California is not one of them. In addition, the Federal Wire Act prohibits US based online sports betting operations, hence there will not be any type of US licensed sportsbook gambling options available for California players. There are not any federal or state laws however which prohibit California residents from participating in legally licensed and regulated Internet sportsbook gambling at websites which are located outside of the United States. These are the types of legal sportsbooks that are included in this guide. As long as you limit your basketball betting to these types of sportsbooks, then you will indeed be accessing options which are legal for California sports bettors.
California NBA Teams
All 4 of the National Basketball Association teams from California do battle in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The furthest distance between any 2 of these teams, the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers or Clippers, is just 366 miles. As you can imagine, since each of these teams plays the other conference foes 4 times every regular season, bedding on the NBA teams in California means some serious rivalry excitement.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are based in Oakland, and play their basketball in the Oracle Arena. With royal blue and golden yellow colored uniforms, the team is led by head coach and former NBA player Steve Kerr. Betting on Golden State basketball means backing a team with 3 NBA championships under its belt. The Golden State Warriors also claim 6 conference titles, 2 Pacific division titles and a generous 17 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers. Notable previous players include Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Jerry Lucas and Mitch Richmond.
Golden State Warriors Betting Guide
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers used to be shunned as the worst professional team in the state. But in recent years the Los Angeles, California-based Clippers have been a playoff staple. Home games are played in the Staples Center, with red, royal blue, gray and navy blue colors represented in the team's uniform. Founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, the Clippers have yet to claim an NBA championship. In the early 2010s a serious rivalry with the Lakers, also from Los Angeles, began to form. The Clippers claim 2 division titles, earned in 2013 and 2014. Bill Walton, Bob McAdoo and Adrian Dantley are former franchise players now in the NBA Hall of Fame.
Los Angeles Clippers Betting Guide
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are easily the most successful professional basketball team in California. 5 NBA championships from 1949 to 1954, along with 5 more from 1980 to 1988 and another 5 between 2000 and 2010, show the consistent winning attitude the franchise displays. Head coach Byron Scott oversees one of the greatest players of all time, Kobe Bryant. 4 Lakers have won the NBA most valuable player award a combined total of 8 times, and the Lakers claim 16 Hall of Famer's. Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Shaquille O'Neal lead the list of NBA Hall of Famer's from the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Guide
Sacramento Kings
The Kings of Sacramento play their home games in the Sleep Train Arena. Donning purple, black, silver and white uniforms, the Kings claimed their only NBA championship in 1951. Head coach Mike Malone directs the efforts of the Sacramento Kings, who play in a very difficult and competitive Pacific Division. The Kings own 1 conference title, 3 division titles and have retired the numbers of 11 previous players. Hall of Famer's Jerry Lucas, Nate Archibald, Oscar Robertson and Ralph Sampson have all played for the Sacramento franchise.
Sacramento Kings Betting Guide
California NCAA Division I Basketball Teams
California sports betting on basketball is big. Especially on NCAA Men's Division I action. There are 351 Division I schools in 32 basketball conferences, and many of those teams play their round ball in the Golden State. A full 24 schools own some type of Division I basketball presence, offering a men's program, a woman's team, or both. The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), San Diego State, the University of Southern California (USC), Stanford and the University of California at Berkeley are all popular California college basketball wagers.
UCLA Bruins Basketball
University of California at Los Angeles owns one of the richest college basketball mysteries of all time. Under head coach John Wooden, the Wizard of Westwood, the Bruinswon an amazing 10 national titles in 12 years, from 1964 through 1975. UCLA also made 3 straight final 4 appearances from 2000 June 6, 2008. Home games are contested at the famous Pauley Pavilion, with a seating capacity of 13,800.
UCLA Bruins Basketball Official Website
California Golden Bears Basketball
Golden Bears home games take place in Haas Pavilion, where the majority of the 11,877 seats are inhabited by California fans wearing the team's Yale blue and California gold colors. The Golden Bears boast a national championship from 1959, but have only been to the NCAA Final Four 2 other times. However, California has made it to the March Madness tournament 4 out of 5 years from 2009 to 2013.
California Golden Bears Basketball Betting Guide
USC Trojans Basketball
California sports betting on college round ball action often means placing a wager on the University of Southern California Trojans men's basketball team. The Division I NCAA PAC 12 team plays its home games in Galen Center arena, with a seating capacity of 10,258. The Trojans claim 16 NCAA tournament appearances, 4 Sweet 16, 3 Elite Eight and 2 Final 4 showings. USC has never won an NCAA national championship, but has been playing strong basketball in the 21st century.
USC Trojans Basketball Betting Guide
Stanford Cardinal Basketball
Playing in Stanford, California, the Cardinal competes in the PAC 12 conference along with in-state rivals USC, California and UCLA. The Cardinal is led by head coach Johnny Dawkins in 2014, and plays its home games at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal have won 13 conference championships and one NCAA championship. That championship came in 1942, but in recent years Stanford has been an NCAA March Madness mainstay, appearing in 16 NCAA tournaments overall and 9 from 2000 through 2014.
Stanford Cardinal Basketball Betting Guide