2023 saw another successful year enjoyed by the US gambling industry and also in Canada. With the Super Bowl and March Madness on its way, the first quarter of 2024 should also be very profitable. However, not every US state has made sports betting legal, will that change in 2024?
If sports betting was made legal in the state of California, it would create millions of dollars in gambling revenue. Such an occurrence doesn’t look likely though with the latest moves to legalize sports betting already looking set to end in failure.
Those who are in favor of sports betting being made legal in California can only look at the online casino in Canada Twin.com that can now operate legally after law changes in 2022.
2022 saw Californians vote on two motions that would have made sports betting legal. They were both overwhelmingly rejected and that was a major disappointment for those who supported the motions.
Approximately $600 million dollars had been spent on campaigning but achieved nothing. Betting giants such as FanDuel and DraftKings had been hopeful it would eventually lead to them being able to legally operate in the state. If and when online sports betting does become legal in California, it’s fully expected that it will swiftly become one of the most lucrative in the US.
Public support just wasn’t there though and state politicians weren’t too keen either. Now further attempts are being made to introduce sports betting in the state.
One key stumbling block is finding some kind of compromise that will work for the tribes who operate in California. Finding a motion that pleases both them and the major private gambling companies continues to be a tough task for all concerned.
One of the measures hoping to win approval is the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act.
If this was made law, it would see tribes in California being allowed to get in touch with private companies with the aim of creating online betting apps. The business created would be branded with the name of the tribe rather than the private gambling company.
It also allows tribal casinos to be able to increase the number of table gaming offerings they currently have at land-based casinos.
Another initiative would make it illegal for anyone other than the tribes to offer sports betting in California.
Just how the tribes react to the proposed measures is of course of key importance. It’s not looking good at present with them upset over not being consulted and only aware of what they included when they were filed with the Attorney General.
It’s already looking doubtful therefore that there will be any changes made in California in 2024. In fact it’s unlikely that enough signatures will be received to even get the proposals onto November’s ballot paper.
