Online Sport Betting OK’d For California Ballot With Tribal Proposal
On November 8, Californians will have a chance to vote on two ballot measures to legalize sports betting. One initiative would let bettors use mobile apps to wager on sports. The other one would allow sports bets only in person at tribal casinos and the state's four horse tracks.
Online sports betting will be allowed in California. The initiative is backed by national online sportsbooks such as FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. It would allow them to partner with federally recognized tribes to offer mobile apps for bettors who are at least 21 years old. 85% of the tax revenue would go to homelessness programs, while 15% would be directed to nonparticipating tribes.
In May, a sports betting initiative from the state's tribes was declared eligible to appear on the fall ballot. If approved, the tribes would be allowed to offer roulette, dice games and sports wagering at their California casinos. The measure also would legalize on-site sports bets at four thoroughbred race tracks.
There are 109 federally recognized tribes in California. They want to legalize sports betting in their state. New York has already legalized it and has made billions. Texas and Florida are not. The tribes want the money to solve their problems. The effort to block out-of-state sportsbooks from entering the market has been successful in other states, including Arkansas and Florida. It's also important to ensure that everyone who bet is 21 or older. In California, the tribes are pushing for online betting. Their proposal would use the revenue to help solve the state's problems, such as homelessness and mental health treatment.
