Seven Sportsbooks Back Third Potential Sports Betting Act on ’22 California… – Casino.Org News

Posted on: September 23, 2021, 11:30h.

Last updated on: September 24, 2021, 03:28h.

Backers of what would be potentially a third sports betting measure on the 2022 California general election ballot say a survey taken earlier this summer indicates Golden State voters back their plan to legalize the gaming product statewide.

Earlier this week, Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support released poll findings from David Binder Research that indicated 62 percent of likely voters would support the creation of a fund to offer permanent shelters for the unhoused and increase services for those struggling with mental health and addiction issues. Only 25 percent currently oppose.

The funding to solve those issues would come from legalizing sports betting statewide, with both commercial and tribal operators able to participate. Its backed by seven current or aspiring operators that are willing to each put up $100 million for licenses to operate online in the largest US state.

But before any of that can happen, the group must first get nearly 1 million verified signatures on petition forms and have those documents turned in to county officials likely by late April in order to get the measure on the ballot.

Currently, the state attorney generals office is preparing the petition for the secretary of state. According to Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber, her office expects to get the paperwork around Nov. 4. Typically, groups circulating petitions for such measures have up to 180 days to collect signatures, but that timeframe can get compressed because of deadlines tied to the November election.

Regardless, proponents are confident they can get the 997,139 validated signatures to make the ballot.

We expect the initiative to win broad support across all geographic and party lines, organization spokesperson Nathan Click told Casino.org this week.

As Attorney General Rob Bontas office prepares the initiative, it is also going through a customary 30-day review where the public can review the entire measure and submit comments. Comments will be accepted through next Thursday.

The sports betting operators behind the measure are: Ballys Interactive, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, FanDuel, Penn National/Barstool Sportsbook, and WynnBET. They formally announced their initiative in late August, having committed $100 million for the campaign.

Under their plan, online sports betting licenses would be available for $100 million. Tribal gaming entities could also receive online licenses for $10 million, but they would not be able to partner with a commercial skin. In other words, the mobile app would have to be under either the tribes name or its casino.

In that aspect, the group says its initiative complements the ballot measure California tribal leaders submitted earlier this year. Several tribal entities joined forces to get a retail-only initiative on the ballot, and California elections officials verified their petition in late May.

In addition to brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at the tribal casinos, the measure also allows the states thoroughbred racetracks Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, Los Alamitos, and Santa Anita Park to operate a retail sportsbook. Racing officials have said sports betting would be a way for them to boost purses and attract more horses and horsemen to their meets.

One group thats left out of the sportsbooks and the tribal measures are the state-licensed cardrooms. But they would be included in a measure led by a group called Cities for Responsible Sports Betting announced its petition filing with the attorney generals office a couple of weeks before the sportsbook initiative.

Cities for Responsible Sports Betting would also allow tribal gaming operators, state-licensed gaming establishments, and professional sports leagues to offer sports betting. It also allows for online wagering.

Similar to the sportsbooks efforts, the cities plan calls for the tax revenues from sports betting to address homelessness and mental health issues. Proceeds could also go toward public education or COVID-19 relief.

The 30-day comment period for the cities measure has passed. The secretary of states office expects to be issued on or around Oct. 18. Once that petition drive stars, it will also require 997,139 valid signatures.

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Seven Sportsbooks Back Third Potential Sports Betting Act on '22 California... - Casino.Org News