While sports betting remains illegal in California, bettors can still try to predict the outcomes of sporting events via free-to-play social betting platforms. Soboba Casino Resort is the latest outlet in California to offer a social wagering platform, via its recently launched Soboba app.
In a joint effort with “social betwork” Sparket, Soboba Sports is integrated into the casino’s app. It allows customers to participate in live-event wagering via a proprietary pool wagering system created by Sparket. Soboba Rewards loyalty members can now bet on sports events using virtual currency via the app.
“We’re excited to partner with Sparket to offer unique and entertaining promotions for our customers,” Marty Moore, Soboba’s Chief Marketing Officer, told PlayCA. “The Sparket platform was chosen because it’s customizable, easy for our guests to participate [in], and it blends so well with the Soboba app, allowing our guests to play virtually anywhere.”
Social betting platforms legal in the Golden State
Sparket uses a proprietary parimutuel betting system. Soboba’s game has no real money or payments, which makes it different from California sweepstakes casinos. Users cannot deposit money or stake anything to earn virtual currency; nor can they redeem currency for money or prizes from the app. It is a purely free-to-play contest where users win prizes on-premise to redeem at Soboba Casino.
At the moment, the only other way Californians can legally make picks on sports is through social sportsbooks like Fliff. That app came under fire over the past year due to a lawsuit from a customer claiming that he lost thousands on the app and that Fliff operated like an online sportsbook.
However, the plaintiff dropped the lawsuit in February, less than a year after it was filed, when the case was ordered to arbitration.
Sparket’s technology is also integrated into apps for Station Casinos in Nevada, Penn Entertainment, esports tournaments, and golf resorts.
Second Sparket partnership in California
This is the second Sparket partnership with a California tribe. Previously, the company worked with the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians to launch a contest for customers to predict the outcome of the 2023 men’s Final Four and redeem winning credits in person at the two 29 Palms casinos for slot machines, table games, dining, and live entertainment.
That effort was a success, with a redemption rate of over 50% as online winners showed up to use their credits.
“Sparket is focused on offering tribal casino partners a platform to help drive user acquisition and engagement through sports and live event promotions,” said Sparket Chief Operating Officer Evan Fisher. “Southern California is filled with passionate sports fans, and we’re excited to partner with innovative properties such as Soboba to bring an exciting experience to their patrons.”
Located in San Jacinto, Soboba Casino Resorts sits on 200 acres and has over 2,000 slots, 29 table games, live entertainment, fine dining, a luxury hotel, and an 18-hole golf course.
App may give Soboba a future advantage
The earliest sports betting could come to California is 2026, but it would probably only be retail wagering, with mobile betting likely to arrive a couple of years later.
The addition of a sports-focused social betting app could help Soboba gauge interest and convert fans to sports betting customers when legalization happens, especially with huge athletic events on the horizon in California in the next few years, including the NCAA basketball tournament, the FIFA World Cup, and two Super Bowls.
