San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area and home to the NHL’s Sharks, the MLS’s Earthquakes and the NWSL’s Bay FC. The San Francisco 49ers also play next door at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
This page explains what kind of betting is legal in San Jose, the options local bettors have, and how a bet works once you place it.
Is Sports Betting Legal in San Jose?
No. Sports betting is not legal in California, so there are no licensed sportsbooks in San Jose, either online or in person.
California voters rejected two sports betting measures in November 2022. Prop 26 would have allowed in-person betting at tribal casinos and racetracks, and Prop 27 would have allowed online betting. Both lost by wide margins. In early 2025, California’s tribal gaming leaders said they would not bring a new measure to the 2026 ballot and are looking at 2028 instead.
Horse racing is the exception. Betting on horse races is legal in California, both at licensed tracks and betting facilities and online through advance deposit wagering (ADW) sites licensed by the California Horse Racing Board.
Where Can San Jose Residents Bet on Sports?
Because there is no legal sportsbook in California, San Jose bettors generally use one of these options:
- Nevada: Reno and Lake Tahoe are about four hours away and have casino sportsbooks, and Las Vegas is a short flight from San Jose.
- Offshore sportsbooks: Some Californians use online sportsbooks licensed outside the United States. These sites are not regulated by California or any other state, so you have no state regulator to go to if there is a problem with an account or a payout.
- Horse racing: Legal through licensed online racing sites and at off-track betting locations, covered below.
San Jose has two large card rooms, Bay 101 and Casino M8trix. They offer poker and table games but cannot take sports bets.
Horse Racing Betting in San Jose
The Bay Area lost its last major racetrack when Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley closed in June 2024. San Jose Fair Downs at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds is a licensed off-track betting location where you can bet on races from California and across the country. It takes horse racing bets only.
Horse racing bets are pari-mutuel, which means the payout depends on how much money is bet on each horse rather than on fixed odds.
San Jose Sports Teams
- San Jose Sharks (Hockey, NHL)
- San Jose Earthquakes (Soccer, MLS)
- Bay FC (Soccer, NWSL)
- San Francisco 49ers (Football, NFL), at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara
- San Jose Barracuda (Hockey, AHL)
- San Jose State Spartans (College, Mountain West)
How To Bet on Sports from San Jose
Whichever option you choose, placing a bet follows the same basic steps.
Step 1. Choose Where You Will Bet
Decide whether you will bet in person, use a regulated app while visiting a state where sports betting is legal, or use one of the other options above. For regulated apps, you must be at least 21 and physically inside the legal state.
Step 2. Open and Fund an Account
Online sites ask for your name, address, date of birth and usually the last four digits of your Social Security number to confirm your identity. Once you are verified, you can deposit with a card, bank transfer or other accepted method.
Step 3. Pick Your Bet and Read the Odds
Find the game, choose a bet type such as a moneyline, point spread or total, and check what it pays. Our guide to understanding betting odds explains how to read American odds and work out your potential payout.
Step 4. Place the Bet
Add the selection to your bet slip, enter your stake and confirm. Only bet what you can afford to lose.
For more on betting rules across the state, see our California sports betting guide.