Known for being one of the most diverse and beautiful states in the United States, voters in California are gearing up for two big ballots in November regarding gaming legalization in the state. The first bill is called the “Tribal Sports Wagering Act” and would permit in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and four race tracks, according to CBS 8 in San Diego. The second major bill heading for the ballot in November is known as the “California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Act.” This competing proposal has not qualified for the ballot yet, but it does appear likely it will pass through and would allow online sports betting in the state if approved in November.
For this breakdown, SBS will go into more details regarding each proposal from a recent article spotlight and some more information about wagering in the Golden State.
Per a recent update from CBS 8 in San Diego, the Tribal Sports Wagering Act is being spearheaded by a collective of tribal groups in California. According to Cody Martinez, chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the bill would permit in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and also four race tracks in the Golden State. Martinez acknowledged in the article spotlight that “in-person, age-verified sports betting is the right step to take to grow into sports betting in the state.” According to the CBS report and the state’s non-partisan, independent budget analyst, this measure would generate an estimated tens of millions of dollars for education, transportation and a myriad of other statewide priorities.
Also according to Martinez, the proposal is critical to helping tribes around the state advance their own economic endeavors. Since this bill would essentially keep Indian gaming on Indian lands and go directly back to the respective tribe’s economies. Another element of the proposal being talked about on California airwaves is the notion of “protecting the promise.” According to the article, which also appears on the CBS affiliate in Sacramento’s website, this “promise” refers to statewide support giving sovereign Indian nations the exclusive rights to operate gaming in California. Two decades ago, California voters passed a constitutional amendment approving casino gambling in the state solely based on Indian tribal lands. So if passed, this would be making good on the initial pact in the early 2000s.
The other major ballot positioned for a vote in November is the California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Act. According to CBS 8, this measure is being led by national gaming companies DraftKings and FanDuel and would pave the way for online sports betting, which is currently legally available in more than 20 U.S. states. According to a budget analyst from the state, this proposal would generate an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars for state projects. These funds would be earmarked for programs designed to combat homelessness and support mental health services.
According to Tamera Kohler, who is the CEO of the Regional Task Force on Homelessness in San Diego, this proposal would be “transformational.” If all goes well for this initiative, it could provide desperately needed dollars for everything from homeless outreach to advancing state homeless shelters, per a quote from Kohler. However, some critics of this proposal say that just because you are making more money available does not mean it would solve the issue of homelessness and housing affordability in California. Another group, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of San Diego, says that if this proposal is passed, it could lead to underage gambling in the state and create an addiction problem at a younger age.
Nonetheless, voters will have a chance to decide for themselves in November and see if they want to follow the path blazed by Arizona which recently finalized a plan to allow for tribal and online gaming.
Always a hotbed for gaming news, California has a ton of action going on. This is why SBS has provided you with our guide on California wagering, which has all you need to know about betting in the Golden State. Also, on this page, you can find out more about deposit options too. However, if you need more information on that topic, perhaps you should look into our catalog of the best payment options available to you right now. This includes all kinds of payment methods, like our breakdown on using PayPal and which sites are the best fit for this option.
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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