Tribes against sports betting in California

The CNIGA has warned that a sports betting bill in the state would violate the tribal-state compacts.

US.- After the announcement that assemblymember Adam Gray introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow California to offer sports betting in the state if the federal law changes, the CNIGA said that it would violate the tribal-state compacts.

Steve Stallings, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), warned that the constitutional amendment that paves the way for a legal sports betting market in California violates the tribal-state compacts. “Historically, the association has opposed bills that expand the scope of gaming in California in violation of tribal compacts limiting casino-style games to tribal reservations,” said the official to Gambling Compliance.

Gray believes that Californians are already betting through unscrupulous websites in foreign countries and said: “It’s time to (…) crack down on illegal and unregulated online gaming and replace it with a safe and responsible option which includes safeguards against compulsive and underage gambling, money laundering, and fraud.”

The amendment needs to get approved by a two-thirds majority in order to get on the ballot as a referendum issue in the state. In case it finally does, it has a good chance of becoming law. Sports betting isn’t like online poker or DFS and it should be easier for local stakeholders to have equal access to the market, which will apparently give the legislature a better chance to advanced the amendment.