California Sports Betting Odds

Below, you’ll find live sports betting odds as posted at legal online sportsbooks in California. Odds are refreshed automatically and directly provided by licensed sportsbooks.

If you see odds you like, click on them to visit the corresponding sportsbook. From there, you can sign up for a new account and claim your welcome bonus. To change leagues or what odds you’re seeing, use the drop-down menu on the left.

Below the feed, check out all sorts of added information about sports betting odds. This includes how odds and bet payouts work, tips for finding the best lines online and more.

How to read American odds at CA sportsbooks

At first glance, reading odds can be like trying to decipher a code or translate a new language. Once you get the hang of it, though, it will be so simple that you’ll never believe you once had any trouble.

Let’s take a look at a fictional example of a betting line you might come across with California online sportsbooks:

	Spread	Moneyline	Total
San Francisco 49ers	+3.5 (-110)	+110	Over 46.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Chargers	-3.5 (-110)	-130	Under 46.5 (-110)

The first thing to note is that this game is between two NFL teams: the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC and NFC crossover event.

The first set of numbers next to each team name—the +3.5 (-110) for the 49ers and -3.5 (-110) for the Chargers—is the point spread. The next numbers of +110 and -130 are the moneyline odds.

The final numbers to the right are the total and its odds, which are set at 46.5 and -110.

Point spread odds

In our example, the Chargers are favored to win by 3.5 points. That is indicated by the negative number of points assigned by the oddsmakers.

Any outcome other than the Chargers winning by four points or more will result in bets on the 49ers paying out. That means San Francisco can still lose, but as long as they lose by fewer than four, bets on that side will win.

Both sides carry odds of -110. This format is known as American odds, which are different than fractional odds (such as 10 to 1) or decimal odds.

The easiest way to look at American odds is this:

• Negative numbers tell you how much you need to bet in order to win $100.
• Positive numbers tell you how much you’ll win if you bet $100.

So in our spread betting example, a wager of $110 would pay out $210 if successful. That is the original stake plus $100 in profit.

Moneyline odds

The moneyline odds are the numbers you most regularly see when referencing lines for a game. In our example, we can tell which team is the favorite by identifying the negative odds. In this case, it’s the Chargers.

For moneyline odds, you need to pick which team you believe is going to win. If you’re right, your payout will depend on the odds when you locked in your bet.

In this example, a bet on the Chargers gets -130 odds. This means you’d need to bet $130 in order to win $100 in profit. A bet on the 49ers, on the other hand, would be at +110 odds, which means you’d win $110 for every $100 you bet.

Granted, you don’t need to bet that high or low. Any amount you wager will be calculated based on those odds. So a $25 bet on the Chargers would pay out $44.23, which would be your $25 original stake returned to you plus $19.23 in profit. A bet of $185 would pay out $327.21, which includes $142.31 in profits. Any bet size will pay out proportionally, barring sportsbook minimums and maximums.

Totals bets

Unlike the two previous types, a totals bet (commonly known as the over/under) doesn’t require picking the game winner. Instead, you have to decide if the two teams will combine to score over or under the total predicted amount.

In this example, that total is 46.5 points, and both sides carry -110 odds. If your research indicates the 49ers and Chargers have the offensive firepower to score 47 points or more, then you’d bet on the over. If you think the defenses will stop that from happening, you’d bet on the under.

The odds work the same as they do in the above example, so for every $110 you bet you could win $100 in profits.

Other types of betting odds formats

While researching your betting strategy, you will likely come across sources of information that use one of the two other main odds formats.

Let’s say you find American odds that look like this for a moneyline bet:

• Golden State Warriors +250
• Los Angeles Clippers -310

Fractional odds are very popular in the United Kingdom, and you see them a lot in horse racing and soccer. An example of fractional odds would look like this:

• Golden State Warriors 5/2
• Los Angeles Clippers 10/31

Those odds are the same as the ones we posted above in the American odds example, just in a different format.

They look different as decimals, too, which are a popular format in many European countries. The same game would read like this in decimal format:

• Golden State Warriors 3.5
• Los Angeles Clippers 1.32

Again, those translate to the same odds as the American version.

You can easily convert the various odds using one of the many betting calculators, which are available for free across the internet.

More popular sports bet types

The point spread, moneyline and totals bets discussed above are the three most popular bet types available at California sportsbooks. But they aren’t the only bets you can make. Other popular options include futures, prop bets, parlays and live betting.

The odds all work precisely the same as in our earlier examples, so just familiarize yourself with how each bet type works. One thing to note is that not all bets are going to identify a single favorite with negative odds. Some, like futures, have more than two options to choose from, so the option with the lowest number is going to be the favorite in the eyes of the oddsmakers.

Here are some brief summaries of the other popular bet types you’ll find in online sportsbooks in California.

Futures

Futures bets are on events that haven’t happened yet. For example, you might wager on which player will earn the National League Cy Young Award or who will be crowned the NFL’s regular-season MVP.

You can make futures bets on team outcomes too, such as betting on the next Super Bowl champion. You might also pick which team will win the World Cup or qualify for the NHL Playoffs.

Props

Prop bets, also known as propositional bets, are basically side bets you make with a sportsbook. These are usually based on events that happen within games and don’t have a direct influence on the final outcome of the contest. You can bet on both individual player and team props.

Some examples would be:

• Over/under on how many points LeBron James will score in an upcoming game
• Cooper Kupp’s total touchdowns for an entire NFL regular season

Some prop bets are very serious, and others can be quite absurd. A popular example of the latter group would be an over/under bet on the length of the national anthem performance at the next Super Bowl or on whether announcers will use a player’s nickname in a given broadcast.

Alternate lines

Some sportsbooks allow bettors to buy points, which is choosing a different point spread or total. But these come at the cost of changing odds. For example, if the Los Angeles Lakers are favored to win by 8.5 points but you think they will win by more, you could move the line to 9.5 or even 10.5 points to get more favorable odds.

Conversely, you could lower the amount to 7.5 or 6.5. Here, the odds would shift to less profitable numbers.

Let’s cover just a few more bet types before we move on:

• Parlays: These are multiple bets made on one slip. They require you to be correct on each pick (called “legs”) in order to win. Parlay bets have better profits for every leg you add, but your chances of winning get slimmer with every new addition.
• Live betting: This new form of betting has become popular with the popularity of online sportsbooks. California sports betting apps will likely follow suit once legalized. Live betting, also known as in-game betting, allows you to bet on games while they are being played. The odds in sports betting shift quickly depending on what is unfolding in the game. Make sure you’re keeping up with the action.
• Other bets: There are many more bet types you’ll encounter at California sportsbooks. Some are specific to particular sports, while others are more universal. No matter the bet type, the odds will work the same as they do with all of our examples. If you find a bet type you want to know more about, simply come back to our site and you’ll find the necessary explainer.

What is the payout on my bet?

The quickest and easiest way to gauge payouts is by using the bet slip at your preferred online sportsbook.

Adding the betting opportunity and bet amount to your slip will automatically calculate our potential winnings. This is crucial when betting on parlays because the more legs you add to it, the more the odds will shift. The bet slip will track each additional leg and calculate the new odds and potential winnings.

Just remember that if you’re using the bet slip mainly as a calculator you shouldn’t thoughtlessly proceed with the bet once you’re finished. If you do, that’s a real bet, and it could be irreversible in some sportsbooks.

When does a sportsbook refund my bet?

There are occasions when a sportsbook has no choice but to cancel a bet or refund the original stake.

One common example is a tie that results in no winners. That’s called a “push,” and it means the sportsbook cannot determine which side of a bet is the winner. All bets in that case are refunded to the bettors’ accounts.

There are other incidents too, such as a game being canceled and not rescheduled. That would result in a refund as well.

All of the occasions for which a refund would be issued are covered in sportsbooks’ terms and conditions. You can and should read them when you first sign up for an account. (You have to accept the terms and conditions before your account is finalized.) Of course, you can also find them on the sportsbook website later.

Live sports betting odds

Live betting is the newest craze in sports gambling and for good reason. Wagering on a game midstream creates a more dynamic and interactive experience for bettors. And it is all made possible through the use of online sportsbooks and betting apps.

While you won’t have quite the same selection of in game bets that you do pregame, you will still have quite a variety to choose from on sportsbooks like DraftKings California or FanDuel California, once sports betting is legal in the state. Each sportsbook offers its own variety of live betting odds and wagering options, but they all pretty much work the same.

You’ll be able to bet moneylines, spreads and totals as well as a large variety of prop bets. These could include which team will score next, which player will score the final bucket of the first half or if the trailing team will come back to win.

How do California sportsbook odds compare to Vegas odds?

Before the United States Supreme Court decided in 2018 that states have the right to determine the legality of sports betting within their own borders, there weren’t a lot of places to make legal bets.

Las Vegas was the premier destination for bettors to travel, which made its oddsmakers the most popular in the world. Their lines were essentially the gold standard for sports betting.

Today, that’s changed. Legal sportsbooks in various states across the country employ their own expert oddsmakers to create their own lines. These lines are more than comparable with those of Vegas sportsbooks. That evolution has reduced reliance on Nevada oddsmakers.

While comparing California and Las Vegas sports betting odds are still great for research purposes, there is no need to view them as superior to those at California sportsbooks. In fact, the competitiveness of the newly surging hobby allows for even more favorable odds and promotions to convince bettors to use one sportsbook over another.

Even line shifts in Vegas don’t carry the same weight they once did. Now, if a line is moving in a California sportsbook, it is most likely due to the public betting at that particular book or because of news that will cause lines at every sportsbook to shift.

Why do betting odds shift?

It is inevitable that lines are going to change in California sportsbooks. And it usually happens for two reasons:

• Public betting
• Additional information

Oddsmakers use a large variety of sources to gather data before setting sports betting lines on any particular event. Once they’ve made their determinations, the odds are then released to the public.

As a bettor, you have the choice to jump on those odds right away or wait and see if they shift. Sometimes those shifts will be in your favor. Other times, they will be detrimental to your potential profit. In all reality, it’s nearly impossible to predict which way the line will move.

The top reason a sportsbook line moves is new information. Let’s use a futures bet example on the next Super Bowl champion.

Lines typically emerge soon after the prior Super Bowl comes to an end, looking a full year ahead. Those odds are usually pretty attractive because, for the most part, they are simply guesses by the oddsmakers trying to forecast the future (without knowledge of forthcoming drafts, trades, signings, injuries, etc.).

As the season draws closer and the offseason moves ensue, the picture becomes clearer for oddsmakers and bettors alike. More accurate lines take shape. As the season begins and games are won and lost, the likelihood of a Super Bowl run becomes easier to predict, and the lines continue to move as the favorites, longshots and underdogs are all identified.

The second reason that odds move is public betting. Sportsbooks don’t want too much money placed on just one side of the bet. If that side cashes, they stand to lose too much. Therefore, they will adjust lines to make the other outcome more favorable for bettors and draw in more equal money. It’s all about reducing liability.

How to find the best sports betting odds in California

Don’t limit yourself to just one sportsbook. Find the best odds to help with your betting strategy and bankroll management.

By shopping for the best lines at multiple sportsbooks and comparing odds, you invite the best possible profits. Even small differences in the lines can make an impact on your profits.

Take a bet on a game with -110 odds. You bet $300 and your payout is $572.73 with the win, a profit of $272.73. Now, let’s shift those odds to -130. That $300 bet now pays out $530.77, or $230.77 in profit. Those line differences come out to $41.96 in missed profits.

Even smaller odds differences will make an impact on your profits, and that adds up to a significant amount over the course of an entire season or a year.

By line shopping, you could increase your profits and increase your bankroll. It’s a win-win for you, and it’s just a smart betting strategy. Keep in mind that you don’t owe loyalty to any sportsbook, and you should take advantage of any promotions and bonuses to maximize your bankroll.