Supporters of an initiative that would allow sports betting in California have begun gathering signatures to try to put a measure on the 2020 ballot. They will need to collect 585,407 by February of 2019.
The state attorney general, Alex Padilla, cleared the title and summary of the initiative. It would amend the state constitution to allow sports book on most forms of professional sports.
Political consultant Russell Lowery is pushing the proposal. He has not disclosed who the financial backers of the measure are. He did say that gaming companies both in and out of the state have shown an interest.
California Gaming Association, which represents many card clubs, says it is not involved in this effort.
David Quintana, a representative of the gaming tribes, who might be affected by sports gaming, told the Los Angeles Times, “Our first priority with sports wagering is to ensure that brick-and-mortar casinos are protected.” He added, “The tribes are in no rush.”
Under the proposal while tribes would be able to offer sports betting, so would card clubs. For that reason Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, said his tribe is against it. Pechanga operates the largest Indian casino on the West Coast. “This is not in keeping with California’s longstanding policy of limited gaming, and we will vigorously oppose this measure,” he said.
Rep. Adam Gray introduced a bill in May that would put such a measure before the voters but wasn’t able to get enough support to put it on the ballot for this November. He said the state needs to spend the time on crafting the bill “to get sports wagering right in California.”
Gray argues that legislation is needed to eliminate black markets and protect consumers.
