Since the state’s inception in 1850, California has legalized various forms of gambling over time. Starting with cardrooms then expanding to Indian casinos and the California State Lottery, the state has seen the development of gaming grow plenty over time. While commercial casino-style gaming is prohibited as of this writing, there are still plenty of options to gamble legally in California.
Below, SBS will detail some of these recent developments and go over what one DraftKings executive called in a recent article, “one of the holy grails in sports betting: California.”
Currently, in the California legislature, there are as many as four sports betting initiatives that could be up to vote. According to a recent article in the New York Times, these proposals are mainly being backed by national gaming sportsbooks and Native American casinos (to the tune of $200 million) to either pass or reject some particular proposals. One of the main proposals being considered for the upcoming November legislative sessions will be adding sports wagering, but only in person, at tribal casinos.
There are also new proposals geared around online wagering which would allow customers to bet on contests legally anywhere throughout the state. Since 2018, when the United States Supreme Court decided to strike down a federal law banning commercial sports betting in states other than Nevada, more than 20 states have gone live with sports betting. This main online initiative comes from online sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel that want to enter California for the first time legally.
Another initiative that is gaining steam is a new civil enforcement measure that would allow anyone that is leery of any illegal gambling activity or operations to file a lawsuit. This initiative has been put together to oppose tribal casinos in the state that many feels have a monopoly on the economy of gambling in California. While the tribal casino action committee has been proponents of a new law that would help put together sports wagering at their casinos, there is an opposing amendment to the California Constitution that would allow sports wagering at all card rooms and race tracks, not just tribal casinos.
The fourth new proposed initiative for gaming in the Golden State centers around supporting online and in-person wagering to help bolster the state’s current gambling ecosystem. In their proposal to the California attorney general, the application is mainly looking for a united front and stance on gaming in the state as opposed to letting out-of-state gaming operators come in and run roughshod on the economy.
The proposal also focuses on avoiding larger issues posed by these new companies like “trying to divide the Tribes by offering temporary riches to a few while taking future growth opportunities to a few while taking future growth opportunities away from the rest.”
Indeed with so many gaming options and initiatives on the horizon, the voters of the state of California will have plenty of say in what they want the future of gaming in their state to look like.
When it comes to California Sports Betting Sites, like BetNow, it is incredibly helpful to have options and make sure all of your betting strategies are aligned correctly.
One thing to make note of when it comes to using these platforms is making use of all the bonus resources at your disposal. When you are trying to figure out which options and bonuses might be the best for you, these websites make it easy to understand what the ideal path to wagering looks like for you. Then when you are ready to place your bets, make sure to sign up at multiple sites so you have your pick of the litter when it comes to finding the best options and the highest bang for your buck.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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