How To Bet On Kentucky Derby 2025 In California

The year’s most prestigious horse racing event takes place Saturday at the iconic Churchill Downs, with the Kentucky Derby set to begin at 3:57 p.m. PT. While sports betting remains illegal in California, residents can legally wager on horse racing through licensed best Kentucky Derby betting sites according to businessinsider.com. However, many fans turn to offshore sportsbooks for better odds and bonuses for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

The best offshore sportsbooks are offering over $5,000 in free bets to California residents who sign up before the Kentucky Derby. That means horse racing fans can boost their initial deposit and cash in on fixed odds for the most exciting two minutes in sports.

Find out how to bet on Kentucky Derby 2025 in California and claim free bets for all 14 races on Derby Day.

How To Bet On Kentucky Derby 2025 in California:

  1. Click here to get $250 in free bets at BetOnline

  2. Sign up and deposit $50 or more

  3. Get your free bets instantly

  4. Place your bets on the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Best Kentucky Derby 2025 Betting Offers In California

  1. BetOnline$250 in free bets for Kentucky Derby 2025

  2. BetUS125% bonus, up to $2,625 on your first 3 deposits

  3. BetWhale$1,250 Kentucky Derby betting offer

  4. MyBookie$1,000 horse racing betting offer

  5. BetNow$500 Kentucky Derby bonus

1. BetOnline — $250 in free bets for Kentucky Derby 2025

California horse racing fans can get up to $250 in free bets for the 2025 Kentucky Derby at BetOnline. Just deposit $50 or more and you’ll instantly receive your bonus. With no hidden rollover requirements and a $20,000 Derby betting contest, it offers the best overall value for the Run for the Roses.

Why Sign Up For BetOnline?

  • Fixed odds for Kentucky Derby betting

  • $250 in free bets with 1x rollover

  • Secure payment options

  • Available to all California residents

Join BetOnline Now!

2. BetUS — 125% bonus, up to $2,625 on your first 3 deposits

BetUS offers California residents a huge welcome bonus offer across their first three deposits. New members can sign up and claim up to $2,625 to back their favorite horses to win the Kentucky Derby. With over 14 races on Derby Day, there are plenty of opportunities to use your free bets and build your bankroll ahead of the Triple Crown race.

Why Sign Up for BetUS?

  • Generous welcome package

  • Fixed odds for better payouts

  • Trusted brand for U.S. bettors

  • Crypto and referral bonuses​

Join BetUS Now!

3. BetWhale — $1,250 Kentucky Derby betting offer

BetWhale provides a $1,250 bonus and a variety of betting options, including trifectas and daily doubles, making it an excellent choice for California bettors.​ It’s quick to sign up and easy to use, making it one of the best online racebooks for residents who are new to online betting.

Why Sign Up for BetWhale?

  • Big bonus and full Derby coverage

  • Wide range of bet types

  • Great mobile experience

  • Fast, secure payouts​

Join BetWhale Now!

4. MyBookie — $1,000 sports betting offer

MyBookie offers California residents a 50% welcome bonus offer of up to $1,000. The sportsbook offers fixed horse racing odds and a wide variety of bet types, including exactas, trifectas, and more.​

Why Sign Up for MyBookie?

  • Available in all 50 U.S. States

  • $1,000 welcome bonus offer

  • Wide variety of horse racing bets

  • Better odds for top contenders​

Join MyBookie Now!

5. BetNow — $500 bonus for Kentucky Derby

BetNow offers California bettors a 100% deposit bonus worth up to $500 for the Kentucky Derby. It has an easy-to-use interface and fast sign-up process, along with reliable customer support, making it a perfect place to make your last-minute wagers on the race.

Why Sign Up for BetNow?

  • 150% deposit bonus up to $500

  • Quick and easy registration

  • Competitive Derby odds

  • Reliable customer support​

Join BetNow Now!

Is It Legal To Bet On Kentucky Derby 2025 In California?

Even though sports betting remains unregulated in California, residents are still able to bet on the Kentucky Derby legally. The state is home to the Santa Anita Derby, one of the most reliable prep races for identifying Kentucky Derby contenders.

California has six horse racing tracks, plus over 40 off-track betting locations. Residents can also place wagers on the Kentucky Derby through licensed horse racing betting apps like TwinSpires and TVG. However, these platforms only offer pari-mutuel betting, which often leads to lower payouts.

Fortunately, top offshore sportsbooks provide a convenient alternative, allowing California residents to access fixed horse racing odds, bigger bonuses, and a wider range of best Kentucky Derby betting sites according to businessinsider.com.

Who Can Bet On the Kentucky Derby In California?

  • Must be at least 18 years old

  • Available in all 50 states

  • Sign up for your sports betting account with a valid email address

  • Fund your account with an accepted deposit method

Kentucky Derby 2025 Odds

The 2025 Kentucky Derby odds have already shifted since the post position draw with several horses moving up the board over the past few days.

Journalism remains the morning line favorite at +285 odds, just ahead of Sovereignty at +600. No other horses have better than 10-1 odds to win the Run for the Roses. Sandman is next on the board at +1000 while Luxor Cafe (+1100) and Bob Baffert-trained Rodriguez (+1400) round out the list of top contenders. Meanwhile, longshots like Publisher (+3300), Flying Mohawk (+5000), and Neoequos (+8000) will need everything to break their way to pull off a major upset at Churchill Downs.

Here are the complete Kentucky Derby 2025 odds for every horse in the field.

Journalism (+285)

  • Sovereignty (+600)

  • Sandman (+1000)

  • Luxor Cafe (+1100)

  • Rodriguez (+1400)

  • Burnham Square (+1400)

  • Baeza (+1400)

  • Final Gambit (+1600)

  • Citizen Bull (+1800)

  • American Promise (+1800)

  • East Avenue (+1800)

  • Grande (+2000)

  • Tiztastic (+2500)

  • Coal Battle (+2500)

  • Publisher (+3300)

  • Admire Daytona (+4000)

  • Flying Mohawk (+5000)

  • Chunk of Gold (+5000)

  • Owen Almighty (+5000)

  • Neoequos (+8000)

  • Render Judgement (+8000)

Kentucky Derby 2025 Picks and Predictions

Journalism won the Santa Anita Derby, which is considered one of the most important prep races for the 1 ¼ mile race at Churchill Downs. There have been 11 horses that have won the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby, including Justify, the last Triple Crown winner. Journalism has won both of his starts in 2025 and has four first-place finishes in five starts overall. After drawing post 8, the pressure will be on jockey Umberto Rispoli and trainer Michael W. McCarthy to deliver a winner at Churchill Downs. While the morning line favorite hasn’t won the Kentucky Derby since 2015, Journalism appears to be in a class of his own.

Kentucky Derby 2025 Prediction: Journalism (+265)

What Is The Best California Betting Site For Kentucky Derby 2025?

For bettors who want to win big on Derby Day, BetUS is the best place to get started. Not only can bettors find better odds for morning line favorite Journalism and other top contenders, but BetUS has one of the biggest promotions available for the Kentucky Derby. New members can claim a bonus on each of their first three deposits, allowing horse racing predictor fans to triple their bankroll ahead of the Run for the Roses.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make the most of your 2025 Kentucky Derby picks.

Click below to claim up to $2,625 in free Kentucky Derby bets when you sign up.

Claim $2,625 in free Kentucky Derby bets