The push to legalize sports betting in California has been a long process to say the least. And, while it won’t be appearing as a referendum on the November ballot this year, it seems that it could appear before voters sooner than later.
After failure to get on the ballot in 2020, many analysts and state leaders believed that sports betting wouldn’t be put in front of voters until November 2022. However, that might not be the case now. Due to efforts from Native American tribes, California could possibly vote on this topic next year.
The Plan Had Been to Get on This Year’s Ballot
Originally, all interested parties were very optimistic that the initiative would make its way onto this year’s November ballot, but due to the health crisis it became very clear that this movement was not going to pass in time.
Most of the state’s counties have been under tight restrictions, which has made gathering signatures very difficult. State leaders eventually gave up on the push for legalized sports betting, but the tribal coalition did not.
Securing Signatures Will Move the Vote Forward
Over the summer, a California judge granted the Native American coalition an extension to acquire more signatures in order to get sports betting on the voters’ ballot. The tribes were given until October 12th to reach 997,139 total signatures.
Reports claim that the coalition has already hit this threshold, but that they’re aiming for 1.6 million signatures to show state leaders and the judge that sports betting is wanted in California.
Jacob Mejia, spokesman for the Native American Coalition, commented on what happens if the tribes get enough signatures to meet the imitative:
“The way it works is that if we qualify the initiative then it’s teed up for the next statewide election.”
Meeting this threshold guarantees that the topic of sports betting will be put on the next statewide election. However, that is scheduled for 2022. Yet, due to a legal stipulation, a special election could be held next year.
What Are the Odds of a Special Election Happening?
As mentioned, the next statewide election is in 2022. However, the Governor and state legislature could vote to have a special election next year. Although not a regular occurrence, with the state’s economy being crushed by this pandemic, sports betting could be just what the state needs for extra revenue.
The last time a special election in the state happened was back in 2009. If one is not approved for next year, then the legislature could move to place a measure on the primary ballot in 2022.
This scenario would lead to the coalition and state leaders butting heads once again over what the framework of sports betting would look like within California. Unfortunately, this has been a regular occurrence over the last two years.
Ultimately, California tribes have a great deal of leverage with gambling in the state. Various members of the legislature wanted to skirt around the current compacts to legalize sports betting and have control over the industry. That led to significant issues with tribes and threats of lawsuits.
The coalition wants to push their initiative instead of allowing California’s leaders to create an industry that mostly benefits the state. It’s a tug of war over a multi-billion dollar industry.
Rick Rockwell
As a longtime freelance writer, avid sports fan, former athlete, and experienced sports bettor, Rick Rockwell has risen up the ranks at GamblingSites.org to become the self-professed “King of the Blog” in his first year with the site. …
