California's Sports Betting Decision Unlikely before 2026, Mobile Version Delayed
The leaders of Tribal gaming in California think people in the state might be tired of the topic of sports betting after the intense debates in the 2022 elections, making any recent attempts to bring it to the forefront before the 2024 elections unlikely.
During an online session, James Giles, the Executive Director of the Indian Gaming Association, Victor Rocha, Chair of the Indian Gaming Association Conference, and James Siva, Chair of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), spoke about the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act, which was introduced on October 27.
This proposal was presented by Kasey Thompson and Reeve Collins, founders of Pala Interactive. However, they made a mistake by submitting the petition to major Tribal casino operators without any prior discussions. Pala Interactive is now owned by Boyd Gaming and is no longer associated with the Pala Band of Mission Indians. This overlooked step could prove detrimental.
Siva explained during the event that the tribes decided to wait an entire election cycle and let the topic of sports betting fade away from the media and voters. Then, they planned to reintroduce it in future cycles. But now, this initiative brings it back into the spotlight, and many voters are simply worn out from the ongoing conversation.
He added that the confrontations in 2022 over Proposition 26, a Tribal-supported sports betting initiative, and Proposition 27, which was supported by commercial gaming companies, were the most expensive ballot battles in California history.
Opportunity for 2026
In California, Tribes hold exclusive contracts with the state, and any changes to Class III gaming there must come via Tribal operators. There is an opportunity for pari-mutuel operators to engage in sports wagering.
Rocha and Siva emphasized that non-Tribal entities cannot compel the Tribes to the California sports betting scene. Instead, the Tribes want to be the driving force behind sports betting in the state, and anyone looking to advance the idea must work with Tribal operators as partners. Rocha admitted the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act might provide a basis for a 2026 ballot initiative.
"This provides a runway for 2026," he said. "I doubt anyone is serious enough to think it's happening in 2024. The fatigue and the online gaming debate would make us look foolish."
Supporters of the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act have the task of gathering 900,000 signatures from residents of California to get the proposal on the 2024 ballot. Considering the timeline for random sampling of signature verification, the deadline to place the proposal on the 2024 ballot is set for June 27, 2024, by the Secretary of State's office.
Sports Betting in California Looks Problematic
When sports betting eventually launches in California, most people interested in the activity won't have anything to look forward to. Giles noted that the Tribes prefer to start with in-person betting, while mobile betting is pushed to a later date.
From a revenue point of view, this is a faulty strategy, because most of California's densely populated regions aren't near Tribal casinos, and trips to place sports bets will be less appealing due to the state's high gas prices and traffic. Data indicate roughly 90% of legal sports bets in the US are placed through computers or mobile devices.
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Source: www.casino.org
