This November, voters in California will consider two important proposals that would legalize sports betting in the state. The topic of legal sports betting in the U.S. has been around for decades and remains a hot topic. If passed, Proposition 1 would legalize sports betting in California bars and casinos. Proposition 2 would do the same for mobile sports betting in the Golden State.
Currently, the only places in California where you can legally gamble in person are racetracks or Indian gaming casinos. In November, we’ll find out if sports betting and online casinos will become a reality like in other parts of the United States. Fans of gambling casino games have been restricted online by state laws, but playing on online casinos for real money in California is now possible thanks to the sweepstakes law, which is legal in the state.
The growth of iGaming in the United States
iGaming is expanding much faster than any other type of gambling. Currently, online gambling is only legal in Connecticut, West Virginia, Michigan, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The total revenue generated from online gambling in the 6 states where it is legal was 86% of the revenue generated from sports betting alone. Of course, this growth should soon include California.
Currently, seven of the largest sports betting operators in the U.S., including BetMGM and DraftKings, have supported Proposition 27 (California’s Homelessness Solutions and Mental Health Support Act). Proposition 27 seeks to make online sports betting legally available in California.
Under the proposal, taxes collected on sports betting would go to a new fund to help the homeless or mentally ill. The law would have to work in tandem with the tribal proposal, as any online bookmaker operating in California would have to partner with a tribal casino.
Because Democrats, who hold a majority in the state legislature, said on July 10, 2022 that they would vote against Proposition 27 and remain neutral on Proposition 26, they would not support either initiative.
A total of 997,139,2022 valid voters were registered in California, so both tribal (retail) and betting (online) initiatives will be on the November XNUMX ballot.
Will they legalize online casinos?
Whether or not online casinos will be legalized in California won’t be clear until we see what happens with the move to legalize sports betting. In fact, only then can other forms of online gambling be legalized. Nevertheless, casino gaming enthusiasts in California can play at online casinos outside of California.
How to play online casino games for real money in California
Due to strict state regulations, there are currently no online gambling sites serving California residents. Daily Fantasy Sports and free-to-play casinos, also known as social casinos, are the only forms of online sports betting allowed by the California government. Thus, it might seem that offshore gambling is the only option for the discerning player looking for a truly comprehensive casino and sports experience.
Interestingly, California law makes no mention of the existence of online gambling sites. The government does not explicitly allow or prohibit offshore gambling. There are many undiscovered online casinos just waiting to be played. The problem is that you won’t know where to look in the first place. Trying your luck at the first offshore gambling site you see is fraught with danger. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that the gambling establishment or betting house is properly licensed.
In an article published in Cal Matters last week, Barona Band of Mission Indians Chairman Raymond Welch and Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Chairman Greg Sarris laid out their reasons for opposing statewide mobile betting being run by commercial operators. They explained that they expect voters to have a choice: Allow “personally regulated sports betting at Indian casinos that have a proven track record of safe gaming; or Allow out-of-state gambling corporations to control and offer Gold casino online and mobile sports betting, turning virtually every phone, tablet and laptop in California into a gambling device.”
In fact, the two proposals don’t contradict each other, and California voters could approve both. It would give state residents the ability to legally wager at tribal casinos and racetracks, as well as on mobile devices.
“We won’t be stopped by these phony political attacks,” said Nathan Click of the California Homeless and Mental Health Act. “Our measure is proving incredibly popular with Californians. Our measure would be the only one on the ballot that guarantees hundreds of millions of dollars annually to address homelessness and support mental health care.
“Nearly half the country has now allowed online sports betting, proving that it can be safely regulated and generate significant revenue to help states solve big problems. Our measure also provides millions in revenue to California tribes – both gaming and non-gaming tribes.”
An argument in favor of betting on tribes only
A tribal initiative to legalize in-person betting at Indian casinos and four racetracks has already qualified for the November ballot. The operator’s initiative has reached the 25% threshold for collected signatures.
Last year there were two other digital betting proposals, one put forward by local cardrooms and another proposed by a group of tribes, including Sarris’ Graton Rancheria, though Sarris has since withdrawn support for the initiative. Those behind the card room initiative are not currently collecting signatures, and it is unclear whether the tribal digital proposal will gather enough signed petitions to qualify.
In the Cal Matters article, Welch and Sarris wrote that they support the in-person tribal initiative because it would “provide safe, responsible, in-person sports betting by requiring people to be over 21 and physically present when placing bets.” Betting. It prevents minors from participating in gambling.” They went on to write that if approved, the initiative would create new jobs, increase state revenues by “tens of millions of dollars” and direct funds to non-gaming tribes.
They argue that the mobile operators’ initiative, which, according to a review by the Attorney General’s Office, would generate hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes, “would put the future of sports betting in California in the hands of online gambling out-of-state. corporations.” Their measure would authorize the largest proliferation of gambling in state history, allowing just about anyone, anywhere, anytime.”
The tribal digital proposal allows for the same situation – players in California would be able to bet from mobile devices anywhere, anytime. Both the tribal digital offering and the operators’ digital offering require operators to be tied to tribal casinos.
When the tribes filed their digital proposal, they wrote, “We believe there is a serious risk that either the DraftKings (commercial operators’ proposal) measure or the Cardrooms measure could pass. Currently, tribes do not offer California voters the ability to bet on sports online. If a DraftKings or Cardrooms measure passes in November 2022, tribes would lose their exclusivity to Class III gaming in California, and such a move would accelerate the legalization of online gaming by non-tribal interests, jeopardizing the existence of Indian gaming as we know it. “.