LegalSportsReprt (LSR) reported that the horse racing industry in California acclaimed the sports betting ballot initiative that is being pushed by the coalition of tribal operators. LSR added that the group had no interest in the initiative, but was fully supporting the effort.
Last week, a group of 18 tribes filed a proposal with California’s attorney general’s office, seeking approval of an initiative that allows voters to choose whether to legalize sports betting at tribal casinos and in five racetracks. If the proposal is approved, the tribes will then be required to gather 997,139 signatures for the bill to go to the ballot. However, the racing industry hasn’t confirmed whether it will partake in the signature gathering.
Cardrooms Excluded
The tribal coalition has wholly excluded the Californian cardrooms in their proposal. Tribal operators are traditional rivals in the California gaming industry. The two have been conflicting with each other and sometimes involving the state in their disputes.
The tribal sports betting initiative was prepared shortly after Assemblyman Adam Gray filed a more inclusive bill in Sacramento. The tribes are unlikely to support it, which will make it hard to go through the house.
Tribes Fear
The initiative has also excluded mobile sports betting. According to Casino.org, tribe fearing the legalization of mobile sports betting, this is primarily due to the assumption that it will lead to influx commercial stakeholders in the state. International online betting brands would partake in partnering with some tribes and thus disadvantaging the remaining tribes.
However, if California legalizes mobile sports betting, it would end up being the most extensive online gambling market in the US.
