California Tribes Reject Sports Betting ‘YES Pledge’ Backed by Commercial Operators

In an ongoing attempt to legalize sportsbooks in the most populous state in the union, California’s top tribal gaming organization is separating itself from a document written by commercial gaming interests advocating for a sports betting ballot measure.

According to reports, a document aimed at rallying support for a ballot question to legalize sportsbooks in California was released by the tribal advisory council of The Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), a group that advocates for legalizing gambling and is run by large commercial sportsbooks. By making this commitment, the SBA would demonstrate its support for an agreement with the commercial sportsbooks.

The state’s leading tribal gaming organization, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), stated in a memo that it opposes the vow.

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The documents were first reported by InGame.

“Recent invitations and reports about the so-called ‘YES Pledge’ campaign for online sports betting have caught our attention. “I want to be clear: CNIGA did not originate this ‘pledge,'” said James Siva, chairman of CNIGA, in that statement.

“While CNIGA fully supports the principles of tribal sovereignty and the right of each Tribal Nation to determine its own path in gaming, this effort appears to be a corporate-driven manoeuvre that has referenced tribal organizations, including CNIGA, in ways that may cause confusion among tribes, policymakers, and the public.”

Overall, California sports betting

The most recent dispute between California gambling tribes and the country’s largest commercial sportsbooks stems from the inability of both parties to come to an agreement that would allow the major operators to operate in the Golden State while preserving tribal control over the procedure.

In 2022, tens of millions of dollars were spent on a ballot measure campaign by DraftKings, FanDuel, and a number of other significant commercial sportsbook operators to introduce mobile wagering that is not dependent on the tribes throughout the entire state. The tribes successfully pushed back against the proposition with tens of millions of dollars in their own campaign; the sportsbook’s proposal received less than 20% statewide support.

The bookmakers have openly apologized to California tribes following the crushing loss and admitted that Indian Country must approve any attempt to legalize sports betting in California. To try heal the rift, the sportsbooks have since hired a number of tribe gaming leaders who opposed their ballot issue.

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