California tribes vow to fight “deceptive” sports betting initiatives
A 43-strong tribal coalition is willing to wage a “vigorous and well-funded” campaign to quell operator-led legislative efforts to gain access to Golden State market
A 43-strong tribal coalition has launched a scathing attack on efforts to widen access to sports betting in California via voter-ballot initiatives.
Issuing a statement, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) and the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN) voiced their opposition to initiatives backed by some of the US’s largest sports betting operators and a separate proposal by the state’s cardrooms.
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation chairman Anthony Roberts was particularly critical in his rebuke of the initiatives. He said: “These deceptive measures were written by and for the sole financial benefit of their corporate sponsors and funders.
“These measures would be bad for California and bad for tribes. We are prepared to wage a vigorous and well-funded campaign to educate the voters and ensure the measures are defeated.”
Golden State legislators have already approved a tribe-backed initiative to permit sports betting at bricks-and-mortar venues, with that measure already qualified for inclusion in a November 2022 legislative ballot.
The California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act is backed by seven operators including US market leaders FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM, which have added more than $100m in funding to the voter initiative.
It has also gained support from four of California’s local mayors.
It bills itself as a complementary piece of legislation to the tribal initiative, in that it includes California’s tribes and provides for online partnerships between operators and the tribes.
Under the proposal, operators would be obligated to partner with the tribes to enter the state, with 15% of tax revenue generated being funneled to tribes that choose not to participate.
Tribes also have the option to set up their own sportsbooks independent of operators at one-tenth of the cost under the initiative.
Despite this, the tribes assert that the initiative will give operators “near-total” control of the California sports betting market, undermining tribe rights and their financial self-sufficiency.
CNIGA chairman James Siva took aim at the operator-backed initiative and questioned its motivations.
“Don’t be fooled,” he said. “These measures are not a fix to homelessness, but rather a massive expansion of gaming that will directly undercut tribal sovereignty and self-sufficiency.”
These sentiments were echoed by Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria chairman Greg Sarris, who added: “We remain committed to responsible sports wagering at tribal casinos that have a proven track record of operating safe, regulated gaming in this state.
“We are prepared to make our case to the voters, just as we have in previous elections, to oppose these deceptive and risky propositions,” he added.
Should the operator-backed voting initiative secure the required signatures to force its way onto the November 2022 ballot, it could lead to a period of intense competition and lobbying for voter support from both groups.