Jason Giles, executive director of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), believes there could yet be online sports betting in California, though he also believes the help of tribes is vital to any legalisation.
Another attempt to legalise sports betting in California failed in January after two ballots aiming to grant tribes exclusive rights were scrapped following fierce tribal opposition in the state.
Eagle1 Acquisitions Corp, the group of backers for a proposition to legalise sports betting in California, had made several amendments to its ballot initiative in December in a bid to gain increased tribal support, however the efforts ultimately failed.
In response, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) stated the failure should serve as a warning against future attempts to legalise sports betting in the state without tribal involvement.
However, Giles believes there could be more success when the next chance to launch a legalisation effort comes around in 2026, pointing to the 2027 Super Bowl in Los Angeles as a key reason to get a sports betting bill over the line before then.
“There is most certainly a path to online sports betting in California – and it starts with the tribes,” Giles told iGB ahead of the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention, set to be hosted at the Anaheim Convention Centre in California between April 8-11. “I don’t think it is inevitable as some people have said recently, but we are seeing positive signs, such as the decision by FanDuel and DraftKings to engage with us at our tradeshow in Anaheim.
“We are not putting a timescale on when tribes will exercise their sovereign authority and look for that path forward with the state, commercial gaming, and the tribal community. It is more important to put measures in place that maintain the sustainability of our communities…
