A group called the Coalition to Authorize Regulated Sports Wagering, representing 25 California tribes and racetracks, has sued the state for more time to qualify a 2022 ballot measure to legalize sports betting.
The ballot measure would legalize sports betting at tribal casinos and racetracks, but not at commercial card rooms; so far, the coalition has spent $7 million gathering signatures for a petition in support of the move. But in March, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order.
The coalition believes it will not get enough signatures by the July 20 deadline, and so seeks a 90-day extension to qualify for the next available election in two years.
Under normal circumstances, California law gives ballot proponents 180 days to gather enough signatures. Currently the number required is 997,139.
In arguing for the extension, Kenneth Kahn, chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, said, “This is about seeking to preserve the people’s democratic right to pursue an initiative during the pandemic. Tribal leaders temporarily suspended signature-gathering as a sacrifice to protect everyone’s public health.”
He added that the current deadline “presents an impossible burden that prevents petitioners from exercising their right to propose legislation by initiative, as guaranteed by the state constitution.”
The lawsuit seeks to push the deadline back until all Golden State counties have moved to the third stage of the governor’s four-stage reopening plan. That works out to about 90 days.
Recently a competing proposal to legalize sports betting at tribes, racetracks, card clubs and online was unveiled by State Senator Bill Dodd. That effort must be approved by a two-thirds majority of both chambers and be placed on the November ballot. The tribal coalition opposes it, because it would authorize sports betting online and at card clubs.
