California Legislative Leadership — which includes Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate and Assembly — found some common ground this week as they collectively voted against a ballot that would legalize online and mobile sports betting.
Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, Senate Minority Leader Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, and Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City announced their rejection of Proposition 27 in this week.
Legislative leaders cited concerns about revenue, which would benefit extrastate entities rather than tribes, should the measure pass.
“California Tribes have proven themselves to be safe and responsible operators of gambling in California and provide benefits to their communities and their members,” said Atkins.
“Prop 27 eliminates the sovereign right of California tribes to gamble in California,” Wilk said. “They have proven to be excellent stewards of that responsibility.”
support 27 would legalize online and mobile sports betting in California for persons at least 21 years of age and offered by state-approved tribes and “authorized entities that contract with them.” Voting language stipulates that tax and licensing proceeds go to homelessness programs and non-participating tribes.
The voting measure “will give every tribe — not just those with big casinos near major cities — an opportunity to directly benefit from online sports betting in California,” said Jose “Moke” Simon, chairman of the Pomo Indians’ Middletown Rancheria and Member of the campaign “Yes to the 27. has said. “The measure gives the tribes control of online sports betting in California.”
Prop 27 is expected to increase state revenue “potentially by hundreds of millions of dollars,” but is unlikely to exceed $500 million a year, according to the Legislative Analyst’s estimates.
However, critics have claimed that the measure, backed by industry heavyweights like DraftKings and FanDuel, would really benefit out-of-state gaming companies. There is also concern that children or young people could be exposed to gambling addiction without proper safeguards.
Prop 27 isn’t the only sports betting measure ahead of voters in November. The other, Prop 26, would legalize sports betting at tribal casinos and certain racecourses, including Santa Anita Park and Los Alamitos Race Course.
earlier this month, The California-Hawaii NAACP filed a lawsuit demanding that an opposition statement attributed to a member of the organization’s Los Angeles branch be removed from Prop 26 ballots, claiming that it was “false and/or misleading” because it supports the measure . The No on 26 group quickly agreed to remove the statement.
The State Department’s official guide to voter information is under public scrutiny until Monday, August 15.
A statewide voting measure would have to be approved by a majority vote to be enacted.
Democratic and Republican leaders in California united against the open primary measure back in 2010 — despite the measure being included in the ballot due to legislation.