• Casino & Gaming

Is Bovada Legal in California in 2025?

Is Bovada legal in California? The popular sportsbook accepts bettors from across the US, but the Golden State’s strict gambling laws make it easier said than done to wager on your favorite sports.

This guide will explain in detail the legality of using Bovada in California in 2025. I will analyze the gambling laws in California and explain how they affect bettors looking to use highly-rated sports betting sites like Bovada.

What Is Bovada?

So, what is Bovada, and why is it so popular among US bettors?

Bovada is a versatile, offshore gambling site that offers dozens of ways to gamble. The site was originally launched in 2011 and has been a fan favorite for over a decade. It accepts a variety of banking methods, too, and allows desktop and mobile betting, making it easy for bettors to access.

Gambling Options

One of the most significant factors contributing to Bovada’s popularity is this variety of betting options. You can wager on dozens of sports, including the NFL, NBA, and more. It also offers exciting entertainment, novelty, and political betting lines.

Bovada offers great wager variety as well, including moneyline, props, parlays, and other types of bets.

A great sportsbook is just the start of why members enjoy Bovada. It also has a top-notch online casino that offers hundreds of thrilling slots, table games, and more.

Banking Methods

Bovada’s banking options also help it stand out from other betting sites. You can fund your bankroll using multiple secure payment methods, including:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Bitcoin
• Ethereum
• Litecoin

The list above is just a fraction of the accepted payment methods available to Bovada members. Also, you can claim great bonuses for most payment options.

As part of its security measures, Bovada requires ID verification before you are allowed to withdraw. So, once you deposit funds into your account, you know your money is safe until you withdraw it.

Desktop and Mobile Betting

Bovada’s UI is easy to use, and players can quickly navigate between the sportsbook, casino, racebook, and other sections. To make it even easier to gamble, you can access Bovada from your favorite mobile device.

Betting on your phone or tablet is often the most convenient way to bet. Bovada’s site is optimized for mobile browsers, so you can access all the same odds, games, and betting tools on your phone that you can use on your computer. 

Bovada Review

Want to know more about what makes Bovada one of the top sportsbooks? Read our in-depth Bovada review to learn everything you need to know about this all-inclusive gambling site.

Is Bovada Legal in California in 2025?

As you can see, Bovada is clearly one of the top sites for gamblers of all types. But is it illegal to bet on Bovada in California?

The short answer is that bettors in California can access Bovada. This may come as a surprise given the Golden State’s otherwise restrictive gambling regulations. 

California Gambling Laws

Many states have relaxed their gambling laws in recent years, allowing gambling to become more popular than ever. California, on the other hand, has remained one of the most restrictive states when it comes to sports betting.

The California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) only permits the following types of gambling in the Golden State.

• Cardrooms
• Indian casinos
• State lottery
• Parimutuel horse racing betting
• Charitable gambling

Casino games can be found at regulated cardrooms and Indian casinos. However, notably missing from California’s permitted betting options is sports wagering.

Even the Indian casinos in California do not yet offer sports betting. Despite multiple efforts recently, including measures supported by Native California tribes, sports betting has not yet been legalized in the Golden State.

Part of the issue in regulating sports betting revolves around who would be allowed to run sportsbooks and how they could operate them. For instance, would tribal operators only be licensed for sports betting? And would betting be restricted to in-person wagering?

Offshore Betting Sites

The online gambling laws in California are lagging behind many other states already on the sports betting bandwagon. However, as mentioned above, bettors in California can access Bovada.

So, how is this possible? California’s gambling laws focus on restricting operators who want to be based in the state. However, Bovada is based in Albania and licensed by Curacao.

Simply put, as an offshore sportsbook, Bovada is outside of the CGCC’s jurisdiction. As a result, it does not need to adhere to the same restrictions as operators based in the Golden State. This allows the site and its members to conduct business despite California not regulating sports betting.

Are There Risks to Using Bovada in CA?

California has little to no recourse for imposing its gambling regulations on Bovada. However, despite the lack of state-level enforcement, there are still some risks to using California offshore sportsbooks.

Legal Repercussions

First things first, could Bovada members in California face legal repercussions for using the site? The short answer is yes, but the long answer is more complicated.

In theory, the CGCC could pursue legal action against players for betting at a site like Bovada. However, this risk is purely a hypothetical one.

State-level gambling commissions like the CGCC have enough to deal with in terms of overseeing regulated operators in their state. As a result, offshore sites and their members are rarely, if ever, a target of their investigations.

However, bettors should be aware that this lack of legal recourse goes both ways. If you run into an issue with a bookmaker, such as the site not paying out your winnings, the CGCC cannot help you. Luckily, Bovada has a long history of positive relations with its members.

Paying Taxes

Another pitfall to be aware of when gambling at Bovada is the tax implications. Gambling winnings are taxable income in the Golden State.

California charges state taxes on all gambling winnings, except for prizes from the state lottery. You also must pay federal taxes on your winnings.

The IRS is one opponent that no gambler wants to contend with. On the bright side, this is one of the easiest risks for bettors in California to avoid. Simply report all your winnings on your taxes, and you will be in the clear.

Cyber Security Concerns

Cybersecurity is another area of concern for bettors at offshore sportsbooks. Linking your financial accounts to any website puts you at risk of having your personal information leaked.

Luckily, Bovada takes measures to ensure its players’ safety. For instance, it employs top-of-the-line encryption software to protect your banking information and other personal data. Other regulations, such as ID verification, also help to protect your bankroll.

Bovada also allows members to make deposits using cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. Betting with crypto eliminates the need to provide your banking information.

Problem Gambling

Finally, engaging in gambling of any kind opens you up to the risk of developing a gambling problem. Unfortunately, even a top-rated site like Bovada is no stranger to players suffering from a gambling addiction.

In an effort to reduce the chance of players developing a gambling problem, Bovada offers resources to help at-risk players. The site also allows you to opt into a self-exclusion program and disable your account.

Bovada vs. Regulated Alternatives

As mentioned above, California does not offer regulated sports betting options. Also, the Golden State currently only allows in-person betting, so even licensed operators cannot offer online gambling options.

This gives Bovada clear advantages over the regulated alternatives in California.

The Golden State does allow in-person casino games and card rooms. However, in addition to being less convenient, these land-based gambling options offer a more limited gambling selection than Bovada.

Here is how Bovada compares to some of the most popular casinos and card rooms in California.

Casino	Sportsbook?	Slots	Table Games	Card Games	Rewards Program
Bovada	Yes	400+	Roulette, Craps, Lucky Wheel, Roll the Dice	Blackjack, Andar Bahar, Baccarat, Poker, Battle of Cards, Pontoon, Red Dog, Teen Patti, Three Card Rummy	Yes
Pechanga Resort Casino	No	5,500+	Roulette, Craps	Blackjack, Poker, Baccarat	Yes
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino	No	7,400+	Roulette	Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker	Yes
Kings Card Club	No	No	No	Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat	Yes

Bovada’s selection of slots is smaller, but it adds new games regularly, and it is more convenient to play online than travel to a land-based casino. Also, Bovada offers a larger table game selection and has lower betting minimums for many of its games. It offers a great selection of live dealer games, too, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds without the hassle of travel.

Will You Try Bovada in California?

Is Bovada legal in California? The Golden State does not permit any sportsbooks to operate in its jurisdiction. However, as an offshore operator, Californians can access Bovada to wager on their favorite sports and enjoy the latest casino games.

Create your Bovada account today to start enjoying everything this site has to offer. As a new member, you can choose between four different welcome bonuses to add extra funds to your bankroll.