A series of scheelite-type Eu 3+ -activated CaMoO 4 phosphors were synthesized by the nitrate–citrate gel combustion method. All the compounds crystallized in the tetragonal structure with space group I4 1 /a (No. 88). FESEM results reveal the spherical-like morphology. The CaMoO 4 phosphor exhibited broad emission centered at 500 nm under the excitation of 298 nm wavelength, while Eu 3+ -activated CaMoO 4 shows an intense characteristic red emission peak at 615 nm at different excitation wavelengths, due to 5 D 0  →  7 F 2 transition of Eu 3+ ions. The intensities of transitions between different J levels depend on the symmetry of the local environment of Eu 3+ ions and were estimated using the Judd–Ofelt analysis. The high asymmetric ratio revealed that Eu 3+ occupies sites with a low symmetry and without an inversion center. The CIE chromaticity co-ordinates ( x , y ) were calculated from emission spectra, and the values were close to the NTSC standard. Therefore, the present phosphor is highly useful for LEDs applications.