Where are we with CA Sports Betting?
The latest bid to legalize sports betting in California filled newspaper columns and generated much excitement not only in the Golden State but across the US.
Would it finally happen? Would the most populous state finally join a third of states in America that have permitted legal sports wagering? Or would the latest attempt wilt away the same way previous efforts have?
Unfortunately, for Californians, it’s the latter. The chance for the state to generate millions in tax revenue has died, at least for this year. Strong opposition from the state’s tribal casinos led to the demise of the proposal which would have allowed bettors to wager via mobile devices and computers.
A far more limited sports betting framework would be far more appropriate for the tribes who are not against the idea of legal sports wagering entirely but argue that the online element of the bill would harm land-based tribal casinos.
The tribes want sports betting to be kept at brick-and-mortar facilities. The proposed bill would've also given the green light for the tribe's arch-enemy, The Cardrooms, to continue offering card games, which is also a conflicting issue; the tribes deem the offering of certain card games by the card rooms as a breach of the tribal-state compact and want more action to be taken by the state.
Updated. June 23, 2020