Tribal gaming interests have, once again, killed a bill that would have legalized California sports betting. It’s not the first time the powerful lobby has gotten its way in the Golden State and isn’t likely to be the last.
Early this week, California Senator Bill Dodd pulled SCA-6, a bill that would have both allowed tribal gaming interests to offer regulated sports betting while also allow Cali card rooms to expand their table gaming options. As is so often the case when gaming expansion is on the horizon, the tribe’s exercised their considerable political weight to have the expansion rolled back.
In a statement reported on by Legal Sports Report, tribal gaming lobbyist David Quintana bashed the now tanked bill saying, “It was a bad bill, written without tribal input, with virtually no time remaining on the clock — it got the finish it deserved. It started off as a sucker punch but ended up as a knock out. Hopefully the next round will involve a true dialogue with the tribes.”
Dodd, the bill’s sponsor, had a slightly different take on the issue saying, “Given the deadlines for getting a measure on the November ballot and the impact of Covid-19 on the public’s ability to weigh in, we were not able to get the bill across the finish line this year. It remains important that we lift this widespread practice out of the shadows to make it safer and to generate money for the people of California. I will continue to be engaged in the issue as we work toward 2022.”
Here’s a prediction for 2022, tribal gaming interests won’t like what comes up then, either, especially if it has anything positive for card rooms.