Government

Sports-betting kiosks could offer path in California

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August 20, 2026

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Sports-betting kiosks at Del Mar Racetrack could offer California a more limited path toward legal wagering than a statewide mobile market, according to a Coast News Group report. The track already has terminals for horse-racing bets, but state law prohibits wagers on professional and college sports. California voters rejected two sports-betting proposals in 2022 following a costly dispute involving tribal gaming interests, commercial sportsbook companies and racetracks.

Missouri offers a potential preview of how regulated sports wagering could operate. Voters there approved retail and online sports betting in November 2024, and wagering began in December 2025 after regulators developed licensing, taxation and operating rules. The state incorporated casinos, professional sports organizations and mobile operators into the market, avoiding some of the conflicts that have stalled legalization in California.

California's competing gambling interests remain divided, making a comprehensive mobile betting system unlikely in the near term. However, a narrower proposal authorizing kiosks at licensed racetracks such as Del Mar could prove more politically achievable. Any plan would still require voter approval and regulatory preparations, with 2028 emerging as a possible target for another ballot campaign.