Jason Giles, the Executive Director of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), believes that online sports betting could still emerge in California, but he also thinks that tribal support is crucial for any legalization.
Earlier this year, another attempt to legalize sports betting in California failed, after two previous initiatives that would have given exclusive rights to tribes were canceled due to strong opposition from the state's tribes.
Eagle1 Acquisitions Corp, a group supporting the legalization proposal for sports betting in California, made several amendments to its voting initiative to gain more tribal support, but ultimately failed.
In response, the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) of California stated that this failure should serve as a warning, and that the state should not attempt to legalize sports betting without tribal participation in the future.
However, Giles believes that when the next opportunity for legalization arises in 2026, it might be more successful, noting that the 2027 Super Bowl in Los Angeles is a key reason to push for the passage of sports betting legislation beforehand.
"California definitely has a path to online sports betting—it starts with the tribes, and I don't think it's inevitable as some have recently suggested, but we have seen some positive signs, such as FanDuel and DraftKings deciding to collaborate with us at the trade show in Anaheim."
"We do not set a timetable for when tribes exercise sovereignty, but rather, we look for a way forward together with the state government, commercial gaming, and tribal communities. More importantly, we take actions to maintain the sustainability of our community and tribal gaming industry."
