The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) last week announced support for a tribal initiative that would legalize sports betting in the Golden State for Indian casinos and racetracks, but not card clubs. The amendment to the state constitution makes no provision for online sportsbooks.
The announcement was made at the 25th annual Western Indian Gaming Conference at Sycuan Resort Casino where recently elected CNIGA Chairman James Siva delivered the annual State of Tribal Nations address.
He noted that the association’s support for the initiative was the “responsible” way to legalize sportsbook.
Elsewhere in his speech, which was delivered at the $226 million hotel and casino expansion that Sycuan recently completed, Siva praised the economic engine of tribal gaming. He cited state figures that say tribal gaming employs more than 66,000 state workers, a rise of 3,000 from the year before.
He noted that the initiative has been carried by a coalition of tribes that want to offer sports betting in brick and mortar casinos and racetracks, but not online.
The chairman said, “Strong public policy and responsible government gaming are driving factors in Indian Country. It is for this reason that I am honored to announce that the California Nations Indian Gaming Association has officially endorsed the tribal initiative to legalize sports wagering.”
He warned against online sports betting because of the dangers of gambling proliferation, underage wagering and threats to established casinos, which are often the main driver of economic activity for gaming tribes.
He also discussed the card rooms that the tribes accuse of violating the constitution by offering games that get around the prohibition against banked card games by anyone other than tribal casinos.
He said the card clubs are for profit, whereas, through their tribal state gaming compacts, the tribes “contribute $8.2 million a year to the California Department of Health for the prevention and treatment of problem gambling. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what other gaming entities in California contribute on an annual basis. The state lottery contributes only $139,000. California cardrooms pay a mere $189,000 per year. Let me state that again, $189,000 per year from an industry that is currently touting economic activity of $5 billion—yes, billion.”
