california online sports betting initiative

“Our coalition knew that passing Prop 27. All three referred CalMatters to a campaign spokesperson. “The kind of money they spent and the results they got are just terrible.”ĬalMatters reached out to DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM for interviews. “I’ve been in the industry from the jump, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Bill Pascrell III, a veteran gambling industry lobbyist. “Everybody knows this: You don’t come and try to screw the tribes,” said Victor Rocha, conference chairperson for the national Indian Gaming Association. It drew the support of three tribes but fierce opposition from more than 50 tribes and tribal organizations. That measure was bankrolled by a handful of large gaming companies, including FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. With 83% against and only about 17% in support so far, it is on track to be one of the worst blowouts in the past century of California initiatives. Proposition 27, which would have allowed online sports betting, appears headed for a historic and crushing defeat. Out of the votes counted as of today, about 30% supported the measure while about 70% opposed it. Proposition 26, funded by about a dozen Native American tribes, would have allowed in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and four private horse race tracks. California appears to be the first state to block all sports betting at the ballot box. Voters rejected two separate measures to legalize sports betting - and it wasn’t close.

Those behind the ballot measures are figuring out their next steps.Īfter stockpiling nearly half a billion dollars in campaign cash and inundating Californians with ads, the pitched - and sometimes confusing - battle over sports betting drew to a close on Tuesday evening. Voters resoundingly rejected Propositions 26 and 27, but that doesn’t end the debate over California sports betting.

California online sports betting initiative