California tribes reiterate confident gaming stance at IGA panel

Updated April 11, 2023
Updated April 11, 2023By Chris Boline
california betting news april 2023

In the lead-up to the 2024 election cycle, California state tribal leaders are again confident they will maintain control in Golden State gaming even until 2028. Per one outlet, the legalization of statewide gaming might take until then and state gaming tribes are perfectly fine with that scenario. According to one outlet, Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro said at a recent IGA panel “nothing is going to happen in 2024 on their end. These guys can retool everything and bring it in front of the voters, but it is going to flop again.” Indeed many tribal leaders are very confident that 2024 will not be a likely year for new gaming legislation in California even with national powers regrouping themselves. 

In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest news in the Golden State along with more notes about California betting. 

Tribal leaders respond to comments made by DraftKings

According to one outlet, multiple tribal leaders responded the other week to an interview between DraftKings CEO Jason Robins with Joe Pompliano. In the interview, Robins said that the California sports betting stalemate could “continue for at least another cycle or two.” The CEO noted that with the tribes being so entrenched in opposition, the development of statewide sports betting will be tough. This is also evidenced by the fact that Proposition 27 received only 18% of the general vote last year even with both sides spending hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising. 

After this statement was made by DraftKings, tribal leaders were asked about Robins’ comments the other week at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention (IGA). With Prop 27 failing with a resounding thud, this maintains the status quo of things in California while keeping commercial operators at a distance per one outlet. For instance, Pechanga chairman Macarro likened national operators moving into California to an “NFL running back taking a handoff and running 15 yards laterally.” Moreover, Morongo vice chairman James Siva added that “(national companies” are starting to learn their lesson” when it comes to approaching gaming legislation. 

Tribes still feel there is work to do for Calif. gaming

Per the same source, Siva would go on to note that national providers spent a lot of money and were “not even close to the response they wanted or the result they needed” for the gaming measures to get passed. He also remarked that the DraftKings CEO does have the interest of his shareholders at his heart so it would be a “wise move on their behalf to kind of regroup.” Moreover, Siva noted he feels commercial operators need to do outreach to tribes to start the process of making amends as reported in one article. 

The vice chairman said he believes there is going to be a role for those groups in the future as far as California wagering goes. However, he reiterated that it is not going to be at the operator level, but at the preferred service provider level that the tribes have been angling for, as vendors. Siva said this is because “the tribes are the operators in the state, it’s B2B or nothing.” 

More notes and information about California betting

Once you are all squared away regarding the latest news coming from the Golden State, SBS has you covered with a ton of great information pertaining to all kinds of wagering. With that in mind, if you are still in need of more information from the state, our California sports betting guide has you covered with a ton of updated information to keep you on top of the news. Moreover, as you are getting into some of your other wagers and are uncertain about which payment options are best for you, we have your back. This is where the SBS payment methods breakdown comes into play as it covers a variety of different ways to make deposits and withdrawals. Finally, for those on the go, our best betting apps rundown is a must-read resource that goes over all the perks of mobile betting in one place. 

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About the Author

Chris Boline
Chris Boline

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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