California’s Attorney General has published summaries for two separate ballot measures that seek to legalize both in-person and online sports wagering in the CA state.
Initiatives 23-0031 and 23-0030 A1 will allow the state’s tribes to launch both mobile and retail sportsbooks. Both initiatives have been given the green light by the Attorney General and will now enter the petition stage.
Despite potentially putting the tribes firmly in control of a regulated sports betting market, neither of the initiatives have yet to receive public backing by tribal groups. However, should the initiatives garner enough support among the public, they will appear on the November election ballot.
Both initiatives must collect 874,641 valid signatures to be considered for this year’s election ballot. Yet while the election date doesn’t fall until November, the state has suggested that organizers of the initiatives collect and submit the required signatures before the end of April. This is to allow enough time for the verification of the signatures.
The initiatives are backed by Eagle1 partners Kasey Thompson, Reeve Collins and Ryan Tyler Walz.
Key points of ballot measures
- Tribes to have exclusive rights to online and retail sports wagering
- 25% of adjusted gross gaming revenue (AGGR) goes to revenue sharing trust
- 1% of AGGR goes to state for administration costs
- Proposed start date of September 1st, 2025
- Minimum age requirement of 21
- Wagering permitted on pro sports, college sports and amateur sports
- Betting on high school or lower school sports prohibited
- Betting on banned animal sports prohibited
Tribes Not on Board
Both measures were originally submitted to the Attorney General’s Office in October of 2023. Since then proponents of the initiatives have failed to receive backing from tribal leaders.
Speaking of the initiatives last year California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Chairperson James Siva said:
“The disingenuous nature of these initiatives should be a red flag to every tribal government as well as every voter in California. The proponent of the measures are attempting to divide and conquer tribes by pushing an initiative that attempts to legitimize illicit off-shore operators and putting our governments at risk.”
In December, the CNIGA took it one step further by publishing an open letter to Eagle1 demanding the withdrawal of the initiatives.
2022 Ballot Measures Most Expensive Failures in History
The most recent efforts to legalize sports betting in the state resulted in the most expensive ballot measure campaigns in American politics. Both Proposition 26 and Proposition 27, which were rejected by the electorate, raised over $500 million in funding throughout 2022.
88.28% voted no to mobile sports betting while 66.98% voted not to legalize sports betting in any form.
Jose is an iGaming analyst with wide experience within the sector. He has been working as content writer on casino and betting websites for more than 10 years, contributing on websites like Pokerlistings, Casinobee, Betpack among others, sharing his insights and perspective for the future ofthe iGaming market.
