Another Push Coming to Legalize Gambling in California
Getty Images. Pictured: California flag flies in front of 555 California Street in San Francisco.
A pair of ballot initiatives to legalize gambling in California went down in flames a year ago. However, hope might not be lost for those eager to bet in the country’s third-largest state.
Details are sparse, but Jill R. Dorson of Sports Handle reports rumors are flying that another push may be coming in 2024.
The Pala Band of Mission Indians appear set to submit an initiative for next year’s ballot. The news took many by surprise, including the three tribes — Graton Rancheria, Pechanga, and San Manuel — and four U.S. operators (BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and PENN Entertainment) that backed competing initiatives in 2022. They all said they were unaware of any potential plans, and that they are not involved.
The competing 2022 ballot initiatives to legalize wagering in the Golden State made national news as it was the most expensive ballot measure fight in U.S. history. Approximately $450 million dollars were spent on the measures, with both suffering resounding defeats.
The prop pushed by California’s Native American tribal governments garnered only 33% of the vote. Meanwhile, a separate prop to legalize online and mobile sports betting backed by some of the country’s biggest gambling entities fared even worse with over 80% voting against it.
It will likely be an uphill battle once again to legalize gambling as the requirements to pass a ballot initiative are harder in California than most states. Even getting it on the ballot is an arduous, months-long process. It must be filed with the attorney general’s office, followed by a 30-day public commenting period and subsequent collections of 874,641 signatures.
Stay tuned to our California sports betting page for more information as it becomes available.
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