A measure that would expand gaming at California’s tribal casinos by allowing retail sports betting, roulette and craps will remain on the ballot.
The California Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit by two card rooms, the Hollywood Park Casino and Cal-Pac Rancho Cordova. They claimed that the initiative, which gathered 1.5 million signatures last year, violates the state constitution because it has multiple subjects, which, besides the additional games and sports betting, also includes a provision where tribes could sue card clubs in the name of the state for gambling violations.
Gaming tribes have long contended that the state attorney general and other gaming regulators are reluctant to take card clubs to court over what the tribes consider to be violations.
However, the state Supreme Court has in the past been reluctant to disqualify ballot measures over the issue of multiple subjects. The court unanimously rejected the lawsuit. The suit was brought directly to the court, which gives the card clubs the option to refile with a superior court.
A spokesman for the tribal campaign, Kathy Fairbanks, said in a statement: “We’re confident California voters will see through their deceptive and wasteful tactics and continue to stand with California Tribes who they have entrusted to provide safe, responsible gaming for over two decades.”
