Efforts to include sports betting on California’s upcoming election ballot have been halted due to insufficient support from tribal factions. Consequently, any legislative endeavors to legalize sports betting in the state may face a delay of up to two years.
Recently, California’s Attorney General outlined summaries for two distinct ballot measures aiming to legalize both online and in-person sports wagering. These initiatives, labeled 23-0031 and 23-0030 A1 and supported by Eagle1 partners Kasey Thompson, Reeve Collins, and Ryan Tyler Walz, received approval to proceed to the petition phase.
However, lacking tribal endorsement, neither initiative garnered support. In December, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), representing 52 federally recognized tribal governments in California, urged Eagle1 to withdraw the initiatives through an open letter. CNIGA Chairperson James Siva expressed satisfaction with the withdrawal, asserting that the proposals exploited tribes’ reputations to legitimize dubious offshore gambling entities.
Siva emphasized that this setback should serve as a cautionary tale for those attempting to exploit California’s gaming market for personal gain, warning against leveraging tribal interests for ulterior motives.
