How To Bet On MLS In California

Major League Soccer is the top professional soccer league in North America. Here in California, there are three MLS teams that play in the Western Conference:

• LA Galaxy
• Los Angeles FC
• San Jose Earthquakes

We’ll have to patiently wait for legal sports betting to become a reality in California, but we can still look ahead to lots of MLS betting when that day finally arrives. Below find the best MLS betting sites you can expect to find in California plus live MLS odds and more on soccer betting.

Best MLS odds at CA Sportsbooks

When legal sports betting goes live in California, come right here for all of the latest MLS betting odds. Our live odds feed will let you compare MLS odds from multiple sportsbooks in one spot. Click through to claim the best possible sign-up offers before placing your MLS bets.

Which sportsbooks are best for MLS betting?

All of the top online sportsbooks prominently feature MLS and other soccer leagues, as betting interest in the sport continues to grow. Here’s a quick peek at some of the top options and what they have to offer.

• DraftKings Sportsbook: DraftKings is one of the industry leaders. It stands apart from the pack in a few areas, including with player props and live betting. Add in regular promos and betting pools, and this is a great place to bet on MLS.
• FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel is another top operator that goes the extra mile with player props. The sportsbook has also been an innovator with the highly-popular same game parlay craze. MLS bettors will find lots to love here.
• BetMGM Sportsbook: One of BetMGM’s biggest calling cards is its massive selection of betting markets and wager types. For the MLS, there’s a wide range of props to explore for each game, as well as regular promo offerings to consider.
• Caesars Sportsbook: Caesars continues to grow its online sports betting presence. Promo offerings and a great rewards program have certainly helped, but there’s more to see. The sportsbook is easy to use and features odds that are always competitive.

How to choose an MLS betting site

There are a number of great places to make MLS bets, so choosing where to bring your betting action really comes down to personal preferences. Consider the following factors when sorting through the options before choosing a California sports betting app. Once it is legal, of course.

• How do the website and app perform? You’ll want a book that runs smoothly and simply.
• Does it have all of the features you want? Make sure the sportsbook offers all of the bet types you like.
• How are the odds? Your sportsbook should at least be in line with the overall MLS betting market and preferably among the best.
• Are there regular promos? The sports betting industry is highly competitive. Some shops just do a much better job of rewarding regular players.

If you work through the above four steps, the sportsbooks that work best for you should become apparent. Also, remember that you don’t have to choose just one. There’s a lot to be said for having accounts with multiple top shops. That way, you can take advantage of the best odds and promos in an instant.

California MLS teams 

California is currently the home base for three MLS teams. Here are some of the key details about all three clubs.

Current MLS teams and expansion plans

MLS now includes a total of 28 clubs split across two conferences.

St. Louis City FC will be the next club to join MLS in 2023. There have been rumblings about the league expanding to 30+ teams in the future, but no definitive plans or expansion candidates have been officially unveiled.

Related Pages:

• How to Bet on Angel City FC

How the MLS season works

The MLS regular season typically runs from late February or early March through October. Each club plays 34 games. The team that records the most points at the end of the season is awarded the Supporters’ Shield and home-field advantage for the playoffs.

The 2023 season is set to kick off on Saturday, Feb. 25. However, the only California team in action on opening day is the San Jose Earthquakes, who will take on Atlanta United. The two Los Angeles teams start their season the following Saturday. LAFC will square off against Portland and the Los Angeles Galaxy faces off against FC Dallas.

Midway through the campaign comes an all-star game, which has taken on several different formats through the years. The postseason includes 14 teams in a knockout-style competition with the MLS Cup championship game held in December.

MLS clubs also have the opportunity to compete in various other competitions, including the CONCACAF Champions League and Campeones Cup. Add it all up, and MLS fans have matches to look forward to nearly all year round.

Soccer betting 101

The MLS is a featured offering at legal online sportsbooks. If there’s not a direct link to upcoming games, you can go to the full menu listing of available markets and select soccer. From there, you can click through to see the MLS soccer odds.

The main moneyline odds give you three choices: one of the two sides to win or for the game to end in a draw. This is known as a three-way bet, but there are two other possible options: draw no bet or a two-way moneyline.

You may need to click through the listing to find those options. On the draw no bet, you’ll see odds for the two sides without the possibility of a draw.

The two-way bet can also be referred to as a “double chance” at some shops.

Beyond the actual result of the match, there are several other ways to get in on the action. You can check out the point spreads offered by the sportsbook.

You can also consider the total number of goals that’ll be scored in the game.

Additionally, sportsbooks offer prop bets for each game. A prop can revolve around specific game or team outcomes—such as total goals per side or corner kicks in the match—as well as on players, such as who will score a goal or multiple goals.

After the matches get underway, you can continue wagering with live betting. Also known as in play or in game, this is real-time betting based on what’s happening on the field. It’s a fast-paced market with odds and offerings continually updating throughout the contest.

You can also keep your eyes peeled for futures odds on the winner of the next MLS Cup. These are long-term wagers where the goal is to pick the winner way in advance. If you manage to do so, the returns can be quite lucrative.

Tips for betting on MLS

The MLS season is pretty lengthy. Teams have plenty of time off in between games as a result. The players get the rest benefit while bettors have some extra time to research in between slates of matches.

Normal handicapping rules apply for betting on MLS. You’ll want to research each matchup on its own merits, study the MLS betting lines, look for edges and more. Here’s a trio of MLS betting tips that can help lead you further down the path of finding some consistency.

• Matchups, trends and momentum: If you can begin with these three basic tenets, you’ll be on the right track. You should analyze the matchup in detail, look for trends to consider, and zero in on the current momentum for both sides. By hitting those three notes, the advantages will come into focus and you’ll be able to make a much clearer call.
• Line shopping and odds movement: Unless you’re ready to bet as soon as the odds come out, you’ll want to track the movement in the numbers. Betting volume will impact the direction of the odds, and the moves can give you clues on how the public is wagering. Also, compare the numbers from multiple books to find the best possible odds for your wagers.
• Devise a system that you can call your own: As you progress with MLS betting, develop a system that works for you within your available time. Do you like to research all at once or spread it out? How much do you plan to bet? By getting your own system in place, you’ll wind up much more prepared.

Sportsbook house rules for soccer betting

All legal online sportsbooks have their own rules that need to be followed. Known as house rules, they let bettors know how things are handled and what to expect. For MLS and soccer in general, here are a few key points to monitor.

• Be mindful of the bet listing. There are lots of bets listed as “regulation only” which are not inclusive of any extra time or penalty kicks. Others may cover the match in full.
• If the home and away teams are reversed due to an unexpected venue change, any wagers placed prior to the switch will be considered void and refunded.
• For matches that don’t go off as scheduled on the same original date, bets are void. If a make-up date is announced, there will be a new listing for that contest.

It’s on you as a bettor to know and understand the house rules wherever you play, so be sure to take the time to review. Many books have a direct link to the rules on their websites and apps, while others may include them in the FAQ or help sections.

How to watch or stream MLS games in California

The main US broadcast rights for MLS games belong to ESPN and Fox. You can find many games on those networks and related properties, including ESPN+ and FS1. Matches can also be simulcast on local stations at times, but the exact outlets vary by location.

Finally, the MLS website is a great resource to lean on for news, schedules and broadcast information. You can also drill into the individual pages for each club, such as this one for the LA Galaxy.

A brief history of MLS

Major League Soccer was founded in 1993 and began play with the 1996 campaign. At the initial launch, there were 10 teams spread across the US. Today, there are a total of 28 clubs—25 in the States and three in Canada—competing in the Eastern and Western conferences.

The league is expected to expand for the 2023 season and aims for an eventual 30+ clubs. As with any other pro sports league, there have been some growing pains along the way, but MLS is now firmly established as one of the top North American pro sports leagues.