By early November 53% of likely voters said they’d oppose the in-person betting measure and 64% said they’d oppose the online betting measure. When pollsters with UC Berkeley’s Institute for Governmental Studies asked likely voters in February if they’d support a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting, 45% said they were inclined to vote yes, while 33% said they were inclined to vote no.Īs the campaign wore on, support eroded and opposition grew dramatically. “This campaign has underscored our resolve to see California follow more than half the country in legalizing safe and responsible online sports betting.” How did this happen?Įven before the campaigns got started in earnest, Californians weren’t that enthusiastic about sports betting. would be an uphill climb, and we remain committed to California,” Nathan Click, a spokesperson for the campaign, said on election night.

“Our coalition knew that passing Prop 27. All three referred CalMatters to a campaign spokesperson. “The kind of money they spent and the results they got are just terrible.”ĬalMatters reached out to DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM for interviews. “I’ve been in the industry from the jump, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Bill Pascrell III, a veteran gambling industry lobbyist. “Everybody knows this: You don’t come and try to screw the tribes,” said Victor Rocha, conference chairperson for the national Indian Gaming Association. It drew the support of three tribes but fierce opposition from more than 50 tribes and tribal organizations. That measure was bankrolled by a handful of large gaming companies, including FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. With 83% against and only about 17% in support so far, it is on track to be one of the worst blowouts in the past century of California initiatives. Proposition 27, which would have allowed online sports betting, appears headed for a historic and crushing defeat. Out of the votes counted as of today, about 30% supported the measure while about 70% opposed it. Proposition 26, funded by about a dozen Native American tribes, would have allowed in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and four private horse race tracks.

California appears to be the first state to block all sports betting at the ballot box. Voters rejected two separate measures to legalize sports betting - and it wasn’t close. Those behind the ballot measures are figuring out their next steps.Īfter stockpiling nearly half a billion dollars in campaign cash and inundating Californians with ads, the pitched - and sometimes confusing - battle over sports betting drew to a close on Tuesday evening.

Voters resoundingly rejected Propositions 26 and 27, but that doesn’t end the debate over California sports betting.

Future of online sports betting usa