Thompson said he and his partners are looking to end losses to offshore online sports betting operations that are siphoning money away from California tribes and state coffers. Initiative efforts have been expected for California’s 2026 ballot. Victor Rocha, a Pechanga member and industry strategist, wrote on X earlier this month that California tribal leaders are closely watching similar developments in other states like Florida, and that “the tribes will take an incremental approach” towards sports betting. market for legalized sports wagering if it were approved, but that tribal support is key to success. Industry experts say California would be the largest U.S.

Tribes were split over the measures, and though advocates and opponents raised nearly half a billion dollars - a record amount - voters were confused, put off and defeated them overwhelmingly at the ballot box. Who’s the mystery player behind new bid to legalize sports betting in California? But many were in New Orleans attending the National Congress of American Indians, where Mark Macarro, chairman of California’s Pechanga Band of Indians, was elected president. “CNIGA already came out against it the day we filed and my understanding is that only 18 of the 52 tribes voted with the remaining tribes choosing to abstain till further info is presented,” Thompson said.ĬNIGA Executive Director Susan Jensen said that the group’s executive committee opened the discussion and vote to all of its members. CNIGA represents almost half of California’s 110 recognized tribes. Thompson, one of the main initiative proponents, said later that while he will not move forward without majority tribal support, he’s not convinced CNIGA’s statement reflects most tribes’ interest in his proposal. This is another example of outside influences trying to divide and conquer Indian tribes. It is hard not to be offended when listening to these individuals speak. “The entire effort surrounding these initiatives was handled abhorrently by the initiative sponsors. “Our opposition could not be more clear and is irrevocable,” CNIGA Chairman James Siva said in a statement. The California Nations Indian Gaming Association, representing 52 tribes, said in an announcement Thursday afternoon that after meeting online with Kasey Thompson and Reeve Collins, the men pushing the idea, its members voted to oppose two proposed sports wagering initiatives filed with the California Attorney General’s Office in in October. After meeting with proponents of a new sports betting initiative for the 2024 ballot, California’s casino gaming tribes Thursday gave it a thumbs down and asked that they withdraw the plan.

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