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Efforts to bring online sports betting to California face another hurdle as the state’s most influential tribal gaming group distances itself from a campaign linked to commercial operators.
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A memo from CNIGA clarified that it does not support the so-called “YES Pledge,” a campaign reportedly circulated by the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), which represents major commercial sportsbooks. The pledge aimed to rally support for a future ballot measure in the state.
“It has come to our attention that recent reports and invitations have circulated regarding the so-called ‘YES Pledge’ campaign for online sports betting. I want to be clear: CNIGA did not originate this ‘pledge,’” said CNIGA chairman James Siva.
He added:
“While CNIGA fully supports the principles of tribal sovereignty and the right of each Tribal Nation to determine its own path in gaming, this effort appears to be a corporate-driven maneuver that has referenced tribal organizations, including CNIGA, in ways that may cause confusion among tribes, policymakers, and the public.”
The divide between tribal leaders and commercial sportsbooks is not new. In 2022, DraftKings, FanDuel, and others poured tens of millions into a ballot campaign to legalize mobile betting without tribal oversight. Tribes fought back with their own campaign, and the sportsbook measure collapsed with less than 20% of voter support.
Since then, operators have publicly apologized and pledged that no future effort can succeed without tribal agreement. Some former tribal leaders have even been hired by sportsbooks to try and rebuild trust. Yet progress has been slow, and tribal officials say a joint ballot measure in 2026 is very unlikely.
California’s tribal landscape complicates matters further. Unlike Arizona or Michigan, where each sportsbook partners directly with one tribe, California has over 100 tribes with very different financial and regional positions. That makes one-to-one partnerships unworkable, meaning any deal would require complicated revenue-sharing among tribes.
Industry insiders now believe 2028 may be the earliest realistic timeline for a unified ballot push—if consensus can even be reached. Until then, the Golden State remains the biggest untapped market for legal sports betting in the United States.