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
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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