As the summer months give way to autumn, the future of legalized gambling in California will see a major facelift this fall. Per a report last week from Spectrum News in El Segundo, spending on the two clashing bills (Proposition 26 and 27) have broken campaign spending records in the Golden State. According to the article, spending on Prop 27 and 27 has surpassed $357 million, setting a record as the most expensive campaign in California’s history. For those that are consistent readers in this space, Prop 26 would allow in-person gambling at casinos and racetracks and also let tribes add dice to their facilities. This is juxtaposed with Prop 27 which would allow bets to be placed online, via computers or mobile phone apps.
In this article, SBS will go over the latest gaming news from the Golden State and also more thoughts and information about gaming in California.
According to the Spectrum News report and also Los Angeles Times editorial writer Laurel Rosenhall, the latter sports betting measure is getting some major donors from out of state companies. Prop 27 is backed almost entirely by major sports betting companies like DraftKings and FanDuel and also similar organizations that operate within the sports betting space. Per Rosenhall, these organizations are definitely keen on getting in on the sports gaming market in California as it is a largely untapped market and a huge economic driver not only in America, but in the world as well.
Sports betting organizations have put an exorbitant amount of money into making sure that Prop 27 gets passed through. Per campaign finance sources, these organizations have put nearly $150 million behind the push to pass Prop 27. Compare this to the $66 million that large tribes in California have pooled together to oppose the initiative. The supporters of Prop 27 getting passed say that this measure would generate hundreds of millions in tax revenues that would go toward addressing the homelessness issue in the state along with mental health problems as well.
According to one report, Rosenhall feels as though this big dollar spending on major campaign propositions highlights the deficiencies in California’s ballot initiative system. She was quoted as saying that it has really become a process that has become very much owned, controlled and manipulated by the very same special interests that it was initially meant to circumvent. Moreover, she also pointed out that there have been numerous instances on the California ballot where this strategy has been followed and is the case with these gambling initiatives.
As alluded to earlier in comparison to Prop 27, backers of Prop 26 have also brought in their fair share of campaign spending. This measure would allow in-person gambling at casinos and racetracks and let the tribes add new games to their casinos like roulette and craps. Large tribes have already spent $100 million to support the measure. However, card rooms in California are opposed because of a provision in the initiative that could make it easier for them to fall victim to a lawsuit.
If you would like to learn more about the California sports betting scene, SBS has you covered. The first place you should check out is our California sports betting guide which gives you the lay of the land when it comes to wagering in the Golden State. In addition to this great overview, SBS also offers readers a lot of other great resources. This includes our best bonus betting sites rundown which catalogs all the latest and greatest bonus offers available to you right now. Finally, if you would like a comprehensive overview of the best payment options available to you then the SBS payment methods overview is a must-read so you can always be one step ahead of the action.
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 in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. 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.
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