After a resounding victory during the 2022 election cycle, California tribal representatives are now openly questioning whether national sportsbooks will take another shot at legalization next year, per sources. As pointed out in this space before, tribal points of contact, like attorney Scott Crowell, have said that given the significant victory last year, national sportsbooks “may not even pursue an effort in 2024.” Per one report, Crowell, who represents the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, made this comment in late February regarding national sportsbooks. However, he did point out that if that does happen, or rather doesn’t happen in 2024, then “expect them back in 2026.” Indeed, to leave with such a large effort empty-handed, it remains to be seen if the national sportsbooks have the resources to regroup quickly or even want to.
For this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming out of the Golden State along with more thoughts about California gaming.
Per one outlet, gaming legalization in California features a variety of landmines given the “increased tensions between the tribes and the books.” Proposition 27 for instance, which would have legalized online sports wagering in the Golden State, received just 18% of the vote in 2022. Prior to that though, commercial sportsbook operators had all but waived the white flag before the vote took place. FanDuel CEO Amy Howe said at the time “we absolutely live to fight another day… we believe there is a path to get there.” That said, the native tribes in California said that the path to legalization “runs through them.”
According to one recent source, Indian Gaming Association conference chairman Victor Rocha said that the national sportsbooks are not going to be “partners” but rather operate as “tech providers.” A tribal-led online sports betting push could then perhaps be the preferred path for California gaming legalization, assuming there is no legislative solution in 2023. However, as it stands, California bettors are left with their only legal option being neighboring states like Nevada and Oregon.
As was shown during last year’s election cycle, the tribes in California are the ones truly controlling the pace of overall gaming legalization in the state. Per one report, it could be a long time before California gets legalized online sports wagering. However, this might not be as long as some might think, with one gaming insider saying his gut instinct is 4-6 years before California gets sports betting. This is because “the tribes are in no hurry and they can play defense forever.” However, some tribal points of contact still expect commercial operators to make another concerted effort at some point.
Later this month, there will be an all-tribes meeting held in Sacramento for further discussions to take place regarding the evolution of sports betting in the state this year. According to one source, for gaming in the state to be successful, the national sportsbooks have to approach the tribes from the ideas of how they offer their experience and back-of-the-house skills. However, it remains to be seen if this arrangement will be pleasing to the national sportsbook operators and is a suitable arrangement for them.
After you are all set getting up to speed on the latest California sports betting and gambling updates, make sure to also look into the variety of resources SBS has set up for you. For more information on the topic at hand, our California sports betting guide is here to tell you everything about the current makeup of the California sports betting landscape. Also, given how large the state is, another great page to look up is the SBS best betting apps rundown which goes over why to bet using your mobile device. Also, if you are looking to get the biggest bang for your buck, and who isn’t, then the SBS best bonus betting sites breakdown is a must-read. Here, you can find a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonuses available.
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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