California voters received the news on Tuesday night, that the state’s residents had voted against the most expensive ballot proposition sports betting bill in United States history. Refusing initiatives by Native American tribes and the gaming industry that were trying to legalize sports betting in the state. Almost $600 million had been raised trying to legalize sports betting in California, however, voters did not want to make that concept a reality. The bill would have allowed adults to be able to bet on mobile devices and online only received just 16 percent of the vote in its favor.
A proposition that would have legalized sports betting at tribal casinos and horse tracks received less than 30 percent support by voters. At the moment, 30 states allow sports betting either at brick and mortar sportsbooks or through mobile devices. Anthony Roberts, tribal chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, said that, “Our internal polling has been clear and consistent for years: California voters do not support online sports betting, Voters have real and significant concerns about turning every cellphone, laptop and tablet into a gambling device, the resulting addiction and exposure to children.”
The sports betting idea was highly supported by sportsbooks such as DraftKings, BetMGM and FanDuel. They claimed they would have funneled tax revenues to aid the homeless, mentally ill, and poorer tribes if the sports betting bill had passed.
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