Sports betting campaign OKd
SACRAMENTO — A proponent of an initiative to allow sports betting in California received the state’s approval to begin collecting signatures to put the measure on the 2020 ballot, but some key players in the gambling industry distanced themselves from the idea Friday.
The state attorney general approved the title and summary for a possible ballot measure that would amend the state Constitution to allow wagering on basketball, baseball, football and other sports contests, officials said Friday.
The proposition is being driven by Russell Lowery, a political consultant who has not disclosed who else is behind the measure but has said in-state and out-ofstate gaming firms have expressed interest. Lowery would have to collect the signatures of 585,407 registered voters by February 2019 to qualify the measure for the November 2020 ballot.
Some Native American tribes that operate casinos are open to allowing sports betting but oppose the ballot measure, which could increase the types of gambling allowed at nontribal card clubs and provide more competition to brick-andmortar tribal casinos.
“This proposed measure would bring Vegas-style gaming to nearly 100 locations and urban areas throughout California,” said Mark Macarro, the chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. “This is not in keeping with California’s longstanding policy of limited gaming, and we will vigorously oppose this measure.”
Others are watching the proposal warily, skeptical that it has widespread backing.
“The tribes are in no rush,” said David Quintana, a lobbyist who represents tribal gaming groups including the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians near San Diego. “Our first priority with sports wagering is to ensure that brick-and-mortar casinos are protected.”
Quintana said the initiative appears to be the work of nontribal card clubs that want to expand their authority and are offering the legalization of sports betting as a “sweetener” to voters.
However, Kyle Kirkland, the head of the California Gaming Assn., which represents many card clubs, said his group “was unaware of the initiative proposed by Californians for Sports Betting prior to its introduction and was not involved in its drafting or any revisions.”
The initiative is a response to a May decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that opened the door for states to allow sports betting by invalidating a federal law that had banned the activity.
The NBA, MLB and golf ’s PGA Tour all have brought in lobbyists to California who say they are advocating for safeguards for sports leagues and fans in any sports betting system.
Those three sports leagues are not involved in the proposed initiative, according to a representative.
Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) introduced a bill in May to legalize sports betting but was unable to build consensus before the deadlines for putting a measure on the November ballot this year.
“We need to take the time to get sports wagering right in California,” Gray said. “The recent Supreme Court decision cleared the path for individual states to determine their own destiny.” He said the “complexity of this issue demands more than the handful of weeks” of work that were available to get it on this year’s ballot.
Gray said he would hold meetings and hearings before considering “proposals that seek to eliminate black markets and create legal options with safeguards for consumers, including protections against compulsive and underage gambling.”