Sports Betting Alliance Opposes California Sports Betting Ballots

The Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) has publicly expressed its opposition to the two sports betting ballots in California. Comprising prominent operators like BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbooks, the SBA has confirmed that it will not offer funding or any form of support to these initiatives. According to SBA spokesperson Nathan Click, this decision aligns with their longstanding objection to these measures, which they believe would hinder the industry's growth and perpetuate an unregulated illegal market.

One of the proposed ballots, named The Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act, outlines detailed proposals. These include tribes contributing 15% of their adjusted sports betting revenue to a tribal wagering revenue sharing trust fund and 10% to a California homelessness and mental health fund. Furthermore, tribes would need to partner with sports betting operators, acting as vendors.

The Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act was amended in December to gain tribal support, allowing sports wagering to launch on July 1, 2025, rather than the originally proposed date of September 1, 2025.

The second ballot proposal, titled The Tribal Gaming Protection Act, exclusively offers sports betting through California tribes.

The SBA's opposition is another setback for ballot supporters, as many tribes and operators have also voiced their disapproval. Pala Interactive, the entity responsible for gathering signatures for the initiatives, has 180 days to collect the required number, totaling 874,641, to qualify for voter consideration. Election officials must verify at least 500 signatures, with the 2024 election scheduled for November 5.

These ballots represent the latest attempt to legalize sports wagering in California, following the rejection of similar proposals by voters in November 2022, despite earlier support for legal sports betting. It remains to be seen how the state's stance on sports betting will evolve in the coming months.