The most populated state in the nation will not get the chance to weigh in on local sports betting until at least 2028, according to Native American gambling authorities in California. All talks regarding a 2026 ballot initiative are now off the table.
Two voter initiatives for domestic sportsbooks were met with failure at the ballot box in 2022. In addition, polling data that has been collected by the tribes since 2018 reveals that there is not enough public interest in sports betting in California to warrant pursuit in 2026.
Rather than rush into another expensive lobbying effort and informative campaign, the tribes are willing to wait it out and strike when the time is ripe.
“It’s not going to happen in 2026… The data is telling us that the time is not right. Definitely not 2026, we’re looking more like 2028, but it has to include all tribal communities in California.”
Catalina Chacon – Pechanga Band of Mission Indians Councilmember
California tribes control the lion’s share of the gambling market in the state. They seek to establish something similar to what Florida has created in regard to Native American-controlled sports betting.
In FL, the Seminole Tribe holds a monopoly over the sports betting industry. Their hub-and-spoke model allows them to offer mobile sports betting as long as the servers are based on tribal lands.
This model has been backed by federal courts, but will it work for California?
“[California tribes have] come too far and have too far to go to rush into this complex sports betting (issue) which is tied to igaming.”
James Siva – California Nations Indian Gaming Association Chairman
Another issue is that all CA tribes are not currently in agreeance on how to handle sports betting. Progress has been made since 2022, but they have yet to reach a consensus. With three years remaining on the clock, there is plenty of time to resolve their differences.
The disagreement among the tribes is still centered around mobile and online betting and how the smaller tribes will be compensated.
The tribe’s three-year timetable allows offshore sportsbooks to continue to thrive in the state. Locals have been betting on sports at sites based overseas for decades, and that money doesn’t do the state of California or the tribes a bit of good.
The hub-and-spoke model that Florida employs has had the unintended effect of further solidifying the legitimacy of international gambling websites. Technically, any wagers placed with offshore books are made where the servers are located and, thus, are not subject to US law.
