California Tribes Vote Down Sports Betting Initiatives

Oct 29, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates wtith quarterback Brock Purdy (13) after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY SportsThe California Nations Indian Gaming Association unanimously voted down two sports betting initiativesThe association represents 52 tribes in the stateThe two California sports betting ballot initiatives were filed last month with the Attorney General’s office

Two California sports betting ballot initiatives have little to no chance of being approved in the state as the California Nations Indian Gaming Association unanimously voted them down this week.

Two California sports betting ballot initiatives were submitted to the Attorney General’s office in late October, with both seeking to give sports betting exclusivity to California tribes and keep non-tribal operators out of the state.

However, California tribes had nothing to do with putting the initiatives together, and the majority of tribes in the state vehemently oppose the potential legislation.

Tribes Vote Down Initiatives

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 during a Thursday meeting. 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.

This came one day after the proponents of the initiatives, Ryan Tyler Walz and Reeve Collins, held a meeting with the association and tribal leaders to discuss the ballot initiatives.

According to Victor Rocha, conference chairman of the Indian Gaming Associates, the meeting did not go well.

“So, the pokers bros spoke to CNIGA yesterday. They said they had conversations with tribes like mine & Morongo. A bald face lie. The conclusion: the tribes are positive they’re grifters. Emergency meeting today. Expect a complete repudiation of the grift,” Rocha wrote on the social media platform X.

So, the pokers bros spoke to CNIGA yesterday. They said they had conversations with tribes like mine & Morongo. A bald face lie.

The conclusion: the tribes are positive they’re grifters.

Emergency meeting today. Expect a complete repudiation of the grift.

— Victor Rocha (@VictorRocha1) November 16, 2023

Initiatives Likely Dead for 2024

The initiatives, the Tribal Gaming Protection Act (23-0031) and The Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act (23-0030), likely have little chance to appear on the 2024 general election ballot.

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.

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 has called on the proponents 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.

Initiatives Crashed and Burned in 2022

This is not the first attempt at letting the people of California decide the fate of sports betting.

Two California sports betting initiatives were on the November 2022 ballot and both failed to receive more than 30% of the vote.

Prop 27, the “California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act,” only received 16.6% votes in favor of the proposition, well below the necessary 50% for legalization. Prop 27 aimed to legalize California online sports betting for operators partnered with California Tribes.

Prop 26 fared slightly better in the Golden State. Prop 26 received 29.9% yes votes, but again fell well short of what was needed for legalization. Prop 26, “Tribal Sports Wagering Act,” would have legalized retail sports betting for California Tribal Casinos, four state racetracks, and expanded gaming opportunities for tribal casinos.

Both propositions faced uphill battles during the general election. With no president election in 2022, voting turnout was always expected to be low in the state, and confusion was also expected among voters with numerous sports betting initiatives on the ballot.