California’s Sports Betting Destiny Rests in Tribes’ Hands

One thing is certain within the constantly changing sports betting scene in California: the state’s tribes have a significant say in the future of this rapidly growing sector.

During the SBC Summit North America, a group of specialists expressed a same belief: tribes in California have a significant impact on whether or not sports betting is authorized in the state. The Pasketna Band of Nomlaki’s tribal leader, Andrew Alejandre, stressed the need for trust-building between tribes and major corporations like FanDuel and DraftKings and warned against a recurrence of previous complaints.

Alejandre underscored the significance of mending strained relationships, asserting, “When we see FanDuel and DraftKings start to rebuild that trust…then we may be able to move forward.” This sentiment resonated across the panel, emphasizing the imperative for respectful collaboration between stakeholders.

Roadblocks to Legalization

Even with strong business lobbying, there is little chance that sports betting will be legalized in 2024. Tribal groups in California fiercely opposed FanDuel and DraftKings’ disastrous Proposition 27, demonstrating the powerful influence that tribes possess.

Frank Sizemore, vice president of strategic partnerships at FanDuel, acknowledged the paramount importance of tribal partnerships in shaping the future landscape of California sports betting. Emphasizing the need for accountability and collaboration, Sizemore affirmed, “We need to prove to the tribes that we can be a good partner.”

Daniel Little, chief intergovernmental relations officer of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, hinted to the Seminole Tribe model, which is being used in Florida, as a possible future implementation. Little presented a vision for the future of sports betting in California, based on tribal sovereignty and using a hybrid model of retail and internet sports betting.