In a surprising turn of events, California's Native American tribes have officially voted to oppose the two proposed ballot measures for legal sports betting in the state. Despite the initiatives aiming to put the tribes in control of sports betting, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) has expressed their opposition. This development raises questions about the future of sports betting in California and the potential challenges faced by the proponents of these measures. Let's delve deeper into the reasons behind the tribes' opposition and the implications it may have on the state's gaming industry.
Tribal Opposition to Proposed Ballot Measures
California Native American tribes vote against the two proposed ballot measures for legal sports betting.
The unveiling of the so-called "Tribal Gaming Protection Act" and "Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act" in late October came as a surprise to the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), which represents 52 federally recognized tribal governments and associates involved in the gaming industry. However, despite the initiatives aiming to put California's Native American tribes in control of legal sports betting, CNIGA officially voted to oppose the two proposed ballot measures last week.
This opposition from the tribes raises questions about the future of sports betting in California. It also highlights the challenges faced by the proponents of these measures in gaining support from the tribal communities.
Shifting Goalposts and Lack of Tribal Support
The changing requirements for tribal support and the absence of backing from California tribes.
Initially, the initiative architects stated that they would only move forward with the measures if they had the support of 100-plus tribes. However, the criteria quickly changed to a majority of tribes, and now they are down to 52 tribes in support. This shifting of the goalposts has raised concerns among tribal leaders.
Furthermore, the lack of tribal support for the proposed measures is significant. The California tribes played a crucial role in defeating an online sports betting measure in the state in 2022, making their opposition a major hurdle for the proponents of these new initiatives.
Uncertain Future for the Initiatives
The challenges faced by the proponents and the uncertain future of the proposed ballot measures.
Despite the opposition from CNIGA and the limited tribal support, the backers of the two initiatives may still choose to move forward. The allure of the massive California market could be a driving factor in their decision.
However, time is not on their side. The signature-collecting process in California cannot begin until the end of January, leaving the proponents with a tight timeline to gather the necessary support and qualify the measures for the ballot next November.
Considering the limited time and the high cost of signature collection in California, it remains uncertain whether these initiatives will progress further or ultimately be abandoned.
