The war for California sports betting supremacy, represented by two ballot measures, Prop 26 and Prop 27, is waging in full force, and the state’s Tejon Indian Tribe has aligned with the majority of other tribes by coming out in support of Prop 26.
The measure, known as the “California Sports Wagering Regulation and Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act,” would limit sports betting to tribal casinos and race tracks. Prop 27, or the “California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Act,” would allow for statewide legalization through operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings, so long as they partner with a gaming tribe. Nearly all of the state’s tribes have backed Prop 26, including Tejon.
The tribe owns property in Mettler, where it has previously announced plans to build a Hard Rock-branded casino.
Legalized sports betting would provide “another stream of revenue on top of whatever table games, slot revenue, entertainment that you’re offering your facility,” Tejon Chairman Octavio Escobedo III told KBAK in Bakersfield.
Escobedo is concerned about the potential impact on tribal sovereignty if Prop 27 passes, given the scope and reach that the new operators would have. He lamented the fact that there is little tribal support for Prop 27, despite what advertisers may say.
“Nowhere does it say it’s paid for by tribes because it’s not paid for by tribes, it’s paid for by these out-of-state gambling corporations,” he said.
The Tejon leader also noted that his tribe is currently working with the state to get a gaming compact ratified. Once that is completed, Escobedo expects to ground on the Hard Rock project within about six to eight months.
