A consortium of 18 California gaming tribes has obtained more than half the signatures it needs to qualify a sports betting initiative for the November ballot. The initiative would allow tribal casinos and racetracks to offer sportsbook but would lock out the state’s card clubs. It would also not authorize online sports gaming or sportsbook apps.
Spokesman Jacob Mejia, director of public affairs at Pechanga Development Corp. told Legal Sports Report the group has gathered about 600,000 signatures; 997,139 valid signatures are required to qualify.
“We’re off to a really strong start,” he said. “We’ve got until the end of April to gather the signatures we need.”
It’s common practice for initiative proponents to gather 110 percent of the required number of signatures, to be sure they meet the requirement. Mejia said the group actually plans to submit 150 percent of the required number. Now that 25 percent of the required number has been achieved, it triggers a requirement that the State Senate and Assembly hold joint hearings at least 131 days prior to the November election.
According to Mejia, online sports betting was left off the initiative because their research indicates the public doesn’t support it, while support for sportsbook at tribal casinos is very high, two-thirds in favor.
“We know from a lot of research we’ve done into this issue on public opinion that the voters are not inclined to support an expansive measure that could authorize mobile sports betting,” he said, and added, “We think the best way to approach this policy framework is a measured, comprehensive, responsible proposal, which is what we’ve got in front of voters right now.”
