DISCLAIMER: Online sports betting is not live in California as of May 2023. This review is speculative based on the PointsBet Sportsbook app in states where it is available. This page will be updated when we get closer to launch day in California. 

PointsBet California will be a highly popular sportsbook app if legal sports betting in California ever launches.

There truly is no other sports betting platform like PointsBet. It offers many of the same sports and leagues to bet on as its competitors. Its odds stack up well against the rest of the industry, too.

But PointsBet truly separates itself with its one-of-a-kind wagering options: PointsBetting and Lightning Bets.

Below is a PointsBet California review where you’ll learn everything about the app’s unique ways to bet, and you’ll find our PointsBet California promo code to claim the bonus up to $250 if sportsbooks are ever allowed in the state.

Is PointsBet Legal in California?

No. Sports betting is not legal in California, so this review is purely speculative and based on the PointsBet Sportsbook platform in states where it’s legal.

PointsBet California Promo Code June 2023

If the app ever launches in California, use our PointsBet California promo code BESTOFFER to get what could be the most unique of the California sportsbook bonuses if online sports betting launches: 5 Second Chance Bet Credits Up to $50 Each.

Translation: Get up to five $50 bet credits if your first fixed-odds cash bet of the day loses. Limit one per day.

Many sportsbooks in the US are shying away from the “bonus” language in their welcome promos. FanDuel, for instance, has a No Sweat First Bet. Caesars Sportsbook has a First Bet on Caesars.

No matter what they’re called, these are all bonus bets.

PointsBet Sportsbook Pros and Cons

Pros

✅ PointsBet offers a low-pressure, low-risk, easy-to-digest welcome promo offer.

✅ PointsBetting is a one-of-a-kind wagering experience offered only via PointsBet.

✅ Interface is streamlined, simple to navigate, and easy on the eyes.

Cons

Yes, it can come with high rewards, but PointsBetting can also lead to huge losses.

Limited availability in the US compared to other popular apps.

PointsBet California: Bonus and Promos (5/5)

How to Use PointsBet in California

If the sportsbook app ever launches in California, here’s how you’ll be able to get your PointsBet promo.

1. Visit the PointsBet website.
2. Click on Sign Up at the top right of the screen.
3. Select your state.
4. Enter our exclusive promo code BESTOFFER.
5. Create an account by entering your first name, last name, and email.
6. Download the PointsBet app to your mobile device: iOS app (App Store) or Android app (Google Play Store).
7. Open the PointsBet app when it launches in California.
8. Deposit at least $5 to be eligible for the five 2nd Chance Bet credits up to $50 each.

How the PointsBet Welcome Promo Works

PointsBet currently offers one of the most newcomer-friendly welcome bonuses in all of US sportsbooks. The intro promo includes 5 Second Chance Bet Credits Up to $50 Each.

Put another way: You can get up to five $50 bet credits if your first fixed-odds cash bet of the day loses, and you have a limit of one per day.

The PointsBet promo for new users isn’t just big, but it also comes with friendly terms: 

There are no minimum odds limitations. 

It has no market restrictions. 

PointsBet Current Promotions

The Promos tab on the left side of the page lists the current deals the sportsbook is running for existing customers. Below are examples of PointsBet’s ongoing promotions: 

• No juice PointsBetting wagers: The sportsbook doesn’t take a cut from certain PointsBetting wagers, offering better-than-usual odds. 
• Insurance bets: PointsBet has been known to offer a small refund for certain unsuccessful wagers. 
• Seasonal parlay boosts: This promotion boosts the payout potential of your 3+ leg parlays. Some boosters apply to SGPs, while others are for regular parlays only. 
• Refer-a-friend: You receive a cash bonus for each friend that signs up to PointsBet using your referral link. 
• Daily odds boosts: PointsBet offers enhanced prices on select markets every day. The boosts are usually in the 15-20% spectrum. These are labeled as ‘boosters’ and typically apply to longshot SGPs.
• Rewards program: Every bet you make will contribute to the sportsbook’s loyalty program. Once you accumulate a sufficient number of reward points, you can redeem them for bet credits.

PointsBet CA: Betting Odds (3/5)

By and large, PointsBet provides 20-cent betting lines on spreads and totals. Deviations from the standard -110 odds are seldom available for NBA games (-105/-115).

As far as moneylines for major sports, college hoops, and football, PointsBet will lag behind its biggest competitors in DraftKings California and FanDuel California. This goes for both underdogs and favorites. 

Generally, MLB is PointsBet’s best-priced market, although it has also been known to provide reduced juice for NFL games (-105 on both sides). 

In-game betting odds are more or less on par with the competition. 

PointsBet California: Sports Betting Options (5/5)

What Types of Bets Can I Make at PointsBet Sportsbook?

PointsBet’s betting portfolio is as diverse as they come and then some. Firstly, they offer standard wagers — bets that are available at every other sportsbook: 

Moneyline: The simplest bet — pick a team or player to win.

Spread: Spread bets revolve around the margin of victory — a bettor wants a team or person to win or lose by a certain amount.

Total: Also called Over/Under bets, these deal with the total points scored in the contest.

Futures: These bets focus on season outcomes — World Series winner, NFL champion, etc.

Teasers: A bettor gets more favorable betting lines, but the teaser must be part of a parlay. For instance, the standard buy in football betting is six points. So you could shift the spread from 2.5 points to 8.5 points.

Parlay: A parlay is a bet with multiple legs — higher potential payout, but also higher odds.

Round robin: A handful of smaller parlays combined from a larger list of selected teams.

Props: Prop bets focus on specific outcomes in a game — which team scores first, will a player hit a home run, etc.

Live betting: Make in-game wagers on fluctuating odds as a game or match unfolds.

The sportsbook has been known to offer some out-of-the-box variations of futures bets in the NBA that you can’t find at many other sportsbooks. Examples include: 

• NBA Make or Miss Playoffs: Odds on all 30 teams to make the playoffs. 
• Regular Season Wins in NBA: An Over/Under bet on whether a particular team will record more wins than the sportsbook’s line implies. For instance, you can bet the LA Clippers will have more than 52.5 regular season wins at -110 odds. 
• Player Points: This wager is on a specific player’s scoring average being higher or lower than PointsBet predicts. For example, LeBron James to score more than 28.5 points per game for the season. 

As far as props are concerned, DraftKings leads the field, but PointsBet isn’t far behind. It boasts a deep lineup of player and team props bets for all four major sports, including some options that aren’t offered by DraftKings, FanDuel, or any other sportsbook:  

• X wide receiver to score 2+ TDs
• X player to score a TD and team to win
• QB pass attempts and QB pass competitions

Like BetMGM California, Caesars Sportsbook California, and most other major books, PointsBet will offers Same Game Parlays in California, a special combo bet that features multiple picks from within one game.

Another standout betting feature of PointsBet is the Name a Bet functionality. In case you don’t find a betting market that you’d like to put your money on, you can ask the sportsbook to add it via this cool feature. 

What Is PointsBetting?

PointsBetting is a wagering format that’s exclusive to PointsBet. 

Normally, with fixed odds betting, you will either get paid out at a predetermined price if you guess it right — or lose your stake if you don’t. 

With PointsBetting, payouts and losses fluctuate up until the final seconds of the game. How much you lose or win depends on how far away your original bet was from the result. The more right you are, the larger the payoff and vice versa. This bet relies heavily on accuracy and is not for the risk-averse players. 

What is Name A Bet?

Name A Bet is a fan favorite feature that allows PointsBet customers to request a bet they’d like to see available.

Click “Name A Bet – Request Now” on the lefthand menu and submit the market you want to see.

Want odds on whether LeBron James will average 40+ points per game for any three-game stretch this NBA season? Send the idea to PointsBet and it just may add that market.

What Are Lightning Bets?

Lightning Bets are a relatively new feature on PointsBet. It’s the sportsbook’s version of micro betting — minute-to-minute, play-to-play bets on what will happen in a given game.

PointsBet offers Lightning Markets on select NBA and NFL games.

The NFL Lightning Bets are:

⚡ Next Scoring Play

⚡ Result of Current Drive

⚡ Result of Next Play

The NBA Lightning Bets are:

⚡ Next 4 Minutes Result

⚡ Next 4 Minutes Total Points

⚡ Next Minute Both Teams to Score

⚡ Type of Next Field Goal

⚡ Team to Score Next Point

PointsBet Sportsbook California: Deposit and Cashout (5/5)

PointsBet accepts nearly as many banking methods as BetMGM, Caesars, and DraftKings, and a few more than FanDuel. The number of options varies from state to state, so it’s hard to predict what the cashier will look like in California.

In all likelihood, you’ll be able to fund your PointsBet CA account via the following methods: 

Cards (Visa, Mastercard) 

PayPal 

✔️ ACH/eCheck 

Online bank transfer

PointsBet Mastercard 

PayNearMe 

The minimum deposit is $5 for all methods, while the maximums are payment method-specific. 

PointsBet offers PayPal, ACH/eCheck, and online bank transfers for cashouts. Depending on the chosen payment provider, the processing time for your payout is 1-5 days.

PointsBet Partial Cash Out

PointsBet, the most unique US sportsbook, also offers a unique way to cash out.

It’s called Partial Cash Out, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: Bettors can settle a portion of their bet before the game has finished, choosing to cash out some, and then leave some to see if the rest of their bet will win in the end.

PointsBet in California: Mobile App (5/5)

As of February 2023, the PointsBet Sportsbook app had 4.8 stars with 33,961 reviews on the App Store and 4.7 stars with 9,862 reviews on the Google Play Store. It’s nice that it takes up only 67.6 MB of space, too.

Beyond the browser-based desktop and mobile platform, PointsBet offers complimentary iOS and Android apps, which are highly regarded for their speed and functionality. In terms of cross-page responsiveness, PointsBet’s online betting apps are neck and neck with DraftKings and FanDuel, which is no small feat.

Usability-wise, PointsBet mobile apps are spot on. Both apps have biometric login (FaceID) options and a search bar integrated. An easy-to-use navigation system and a horizontal scrolling menu allow you to jump to popular sports quickly. 

PointsBet also sets itself apart with PointsBet+, which features in-app betting content exclusive to the PointsBet app. We also appreciate that PointsBet has included same-game parlay options on select college football games in its most recent update. That’s an example of a company listening to its customers and changing things accordingly.

One minor fly in the ointment is the omission of the Home button. Users have to scroll manually to reach the starting screen of the PointsBet mobile app, which could take some time if they browse the extensive props menu. 

PointsBet California: Customer Service (4.5/5)

The PointsBet Sportsbook customer support page breaks down its help into 13 categories: Getting Started, My Account, Depositing, Withdrawing, Sports Betting 101, Products and Features, Promotions, Online Casino, House Rules, Responsible Gaming, Retail Sportsbook, About Us, and Rules, Terms & Conditions.

PointsBet does have a 24/7 live chat function, although it’s a bit hard to find. It’s tucked away in the bottom menu of the site. But you do talk to a real person quickly, which is great.

Bettors can also email [email protected] for more help.

You can also call the PointsBet customer service phone number: 833-338-7238.

Setting Limits at PointsBet California

Like all major US sportsbooks, PointsBet gives its customers options to set limits on their gambling habits via its responsible gambling page. Users can self-impose limits on how much they can deposit into their account and how much they can spend on each wager.

PointsBet bettors can also set restrictions on how much time they can spend on the app.

• Time-based limits — daily time limits for use of the app
• Cool off period — a longer forced break from the app, either three, seven, or 30 days
• Self-exclusion — users can lock themselves out of the app for one or five years

PointsBet California: Overall Grade (4.6/5)

PointsBet will be one of the best sports betting apps in California in the future, hands down. Not only does it offer a unique betting format that no other sportsbook has, but it has also introduced a number of other innovative features like Name a Bet, SGPs, Quick Parlay, and Karma Kommittee. On top of all this, it excels in market depth, promotions, and mobile app functionality. It truly is the whole package. 

How to Register for a PointsBet Sportsbook Account in California

If you need a hand setting up a PointsBet California account, refer to these instructions:

1. Go to the sportsbook’s official website. 
2. On the top-right corner of the homepage, select the Sign-Up button. 
3. Choose California as your access point from the dropdown list of states.
4. Complete the two-step sign-up procedure. Enter your birthday, last four digits of your SSN, address, and password in the registration form.
5. Tick the T&C box confirming you agree with the sportsbook’s privacy policy. 
6. You’ll be enrolled in the sportsbook’s promotional newsletter by checking the final box and receiving SMS notifications about upcoming deals. Subscribing to this service is optional, and you can opt-out anytime. 

Or, you could download the PointsBet app and then head to this page on your mobile device and click our PointsBet California promo code link. Then steps 4-6 would remain the same.

After completing the registration, you’ll have to download the player location check, a geolocation tracker, which will allow PointsBet to verify your location upon submitting a bet. 

Is PointsBet Legit?

PointsBet Sportsbook is a trustworthy operator with a well-established reputation both in the US sports betting industry and overseas in Australia, where it’s headquartered. 

It became a publicly traded company in 2019 under the name PointsBet Holdings Limited. 

PointsBet launched in 2015 in Australia, where it acquired a license from the North Territory government. 

It crossed the pond in 2019, first going live in New Jersey and then in nine other states. The sportsbook got licensing approval in each of those jurisdictions and complies with relevant state laws. 

Why Choose PointsBet Over Offshore Sites?

There is a tendency for bettors to get easily lured by offshore sportsbooks that promise more rewarding incentives and better odds. The truth is that going to an unregulated betting site is a bad idea for the following reasons:

• No protection: Offshore betting sites don’t have to answer to any regulatory body or agency. Put another way, offshore betting sites won’t face any repercussion if they mistreat a customer or withhold winnings from a customer for whatever reason.
• Poor reputation: These unregulated, offshore sportsbooks have a track record of freezing withdrawals, not paying winnings, providing unfavorable odds, requiring high minimum deposits, and even just disappearing without a trace — taking customers’ money along with them.
• Wider range of payment methods: PointsBet supports more banking options than betting sites operating out of the US. 
• Superior betting features: PointsBet offers innovative features that offshore books can only dream of. And PointsBet, with PointsBetting and Lightning Bets, even lead this category among regulated US sportsbooks.
• Standalone mobile apps: PointsBet and all other legal US sportsbooks have standalone apps for iOS and Android. This is unlike offshore betting platforms that work only in browser-based mode. The vast majority of online traffic is via a mobile device, and the easiest way to access betting sites via a mobile device is through an app.

Why Can You Trust PointsBet Sportsbook With Your Money?

PointsBet employs the latest 2048-bit SSL encryption technology, which keeps hackers at bay easily. On top of this, the sportsbook uses auxiliary security measures like FaceID logins, 2FA tools, and more. With such safety mechanisms in place, your funds and personal information will be constantly protected from cyber attacks. 

Another reason why we would put our trust in PointsBet is its unblemished track record. The sportsbook has a clean reputation across its social media channels, betting portals, forums like Reddit and Quora, and every sportsbook assessment site. 

Will PointsBet Offer a Retail Sportsbook in California?

Some time in the future, probably yes. But that won’t happen until 2025 at the earliest.

California voters emphatically rejected both sports betting propositions in the 2022 election. Interest groups will now focus on putting sports betting on the 2024 ballot, and if it’s approved, it would launch in mid- to late-2025.

PointsBet has a track record of working with Indian tribes for casino retail sportsbooks in other states. In Michigan, it worked with the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians to open a retail PointsBet Sportsbook at the tribe’s Northern Water Casino Resort.

A future California sports betting ballot measure may also allow for retail sportsbooks at sports venues. PointsBet is partnered with various teams in MLB, the NHL, NFL, and NBA. Logic suggests the company could partner with California teams in these leagues if the state legalizes sports betting, and those teams’ home stadiums and arenas could be potential retail sportsbook locations.

PointsBet California Fact Sheet

What First-Time Bettors Should Know

If PointsBet California is your introduction to sports betting, here are five things you should definitely know.

1. Not every bonus will be the same for every customer. Sportsbooks will vary their offers by state and by customer — depending on how far removed that state is from launch, or on how often the customer uses the app.
2. You lose your original wager with 2nd Chance Bets. A winning regular bet of $100 with -200 odds would get a $150 payout — the original $100 bet plus the $50 in winnings. However, a promotional 2nd Chance Bet of $100 would only get the $50 winnings in your account.
3. Pay attention to playthrough requirements. These are the most important part of terms and conditions, as they tell you how much you’ll actually have to bet in order to get your full promo. Fortunately, the PointsBet welcome promo has just a 1x playthrough requirement.
4. Double-check parlay odds boost promotions. Sometimes, the odds you’ll get if you manually input your parlay will actually be higher than the odds offered through the sportsbook bonus.
5. 2nd Chance Bets can’t be used on bonus offers.

PointsBet California FAQs