California Sports Betting Initiatives Amended, Tribes Not Sold on Changes

Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) makes a move on Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (2) on way to a 23-yard touchdown run during the second quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsTwo California sports betting initiatives have been amended The amendment requires tribes to contribute 25% of the adjusted sports betting gross gaming revenue into a tribal sports wagering revenue sharing trust fundTribal leaders are still not sold on the initiatives

Two California sports betting initiatives have been amended in hopes to make them more appealing to state tribes, yet the changes have been so far met with negativity from some tribal leaders.

An amendment to the initiatives was submitted after the state closed its 30-day comment period. Proponents of the measures increased the mandatory contribution from state tribes to the tribal sports wagering revenue sharing trust fund and are still preparing to move forward with a signature collecting process to potentially secure a spot on the 2024 November election ballot.

Tribal leaders have been opposed to the initiatives every step of the way so far and do not seem to have changed their opinion with the latest changes.

Not Much Support

The measures aim to legalize retail and online sports betting for California tribes, while prohibiting retail and online sports betting for any entity other than a state tribe.

The proponents of the initiatives amended the measures after the public comment period ended in late November. The main change to the initiatives is tribes will be required to contribute 25% of the adjusted sports betting gross gaming revenue into a tribal sports wagering revenue sharing trust trust, an increase from the original 15% contribution.

Additionally, the initiatives were amended to move the proposed sports betting start date to no earlier than July 1, 2025, up from Sept. 1, 2025.

Before the proponents can begin gathering signatures for the initiatives, the California Attorney General must first prepare and issue circulating titles and summaries. To appear on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot, the proponents of the initiatives will have to collect 874,641 valid signatures over the next four months. The state suggests that signatures should be collected over six months to ensure success.

Victor Rocha, conference chair of the Indian Gaming Association and member of the Pechanga Band of Indians, has been a stout opponent of the initiatives since their introduction. His opinions on the initiatives did not change after seeing the proposed amendments.

He shared his thoughts on social media platform X.

“The strategy is to drive a wedge between the gaming & non-gaming tribes. At the end of the day, it’s still a bunch of tech bros promising to lead Native Americans to the promise land. It will fail like before. Unity is our strength,” he wrote.

Tough Road Ahead

From the moment the initiatives were introduced by Ryan Tyler Walz and Reeve Collins, California tribes have been wary of the measures and have taken official action to vote them down.

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), which represents some of the largest and most influential tribes in the state, voted unanimously to oppose each of the sports betting ballot initiatives last month. The vote to oppose the initiatives was 18-0.

“The entire effort surrounding these initiatives was handled abhorrently by the initiative sponsors,” said CNIGA Chairman James Siva in a published statement. “It is hard not to be offended when listening to these individuals speak. This is another example of outside influences trying to divide and conquer Indian tribes. We will not let history repeat itself.”

The initiatives likely have little chance to appear on the 2024 general election ballot.

To appear on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot, the proponents of the initiatives will have to collect 874,641 valid signatures over the next four months. The state suggests that signatures should be collected over six months to ensure success.

CNIGA previously called for the authors of the initiatives to recall the measures.

“California tribes have been successfully engaged in the gaming market for more than four decades. This didn’t happen by mistake, nor without careful consideration on the effects to our members and our surrounding communities. Tribal Leaders are the experts, and we will decide what is best for our people. Now that the sponsors have heard directly from tribes that their efforts are not supported, we call on them to drop the initiatives as they have pledged to do if tribes were to oppose them. Our opposition could not be more clear and is irrevocable,” Siva said.