Pressure for legalized sports betting in California continues.
On Thursday, a coalition of California cities launched a voting initiative to expand California gambling by approving sports betting. The measure, known as the California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act, was sent to the Attorney General’s Office and appeared on the AG website on Thursday.
The next step is for California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his office to review the archived initiative and make a summary. Supporters of the measure can then start collecting signatures to qualify for the ballot in November 2022.
The California Election Act requires supporters to submit 997,139 valid signatures for the initiative to appear on the ballot box in November 2022. The deadline for signatures is April 2022.
The new initiative comes at a time when neighboring Arizona is about to launch AZ sports betting in time for the NFL season. Nevada gambling already includes sports betting.
There will be at least one other measure for sports betting on the ballot paper if the cities succeed in getting enough signatures. An initiative by Native American tribes in California to allow sports books at tribal casinos and state-licensed racetracks that qualified for the 2022 ballot in late May. The tribal coalition to authorize regulated sports betting needed two extensions to confirm signatures before they were certified.
There may also be other sports betting initiatives trying to qualify for the November 2022 election, according to Adherence to gambling for Vixio. They can also include sports betting online.
The California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act – like the tribal initiative – would change the state’s constitution. New compact terms between the state and the tribes had to be negotiated. Professional sports teams and leagues can have sports books inside their facilities if the initiative is adopted.
California tribes oppose the new initiative, according to Vixio.
More details about the initiative
Other details in the city’s proposal: Licenses will cost $ 5 million in advance and be reissued every two years for $ 1 million. Income from sports betting will be taxed at 25% and league data will be required.
The initiative was formally filed Thursday at the Attorney General’s Office by Tasha Cerda, Mayor of Gardena (Los Angeles County), Helen Fisicaro, Deputy Mayor of Colma (San Mateo County) and Raul Peralez, San Jose (Santa Clara County) City Council member.
“Across California, cities like mine are at the breaking point of dealing with social ills such as homelessness, homelessness and crime, which have been overloaded by the health and economic damage of the COVID pandemic,” Cerda said in a press release, according to Hews Media Group. “Let’s bring sports betting out of the shadows, regulate the industry and use a portion of the proceeds to the benefit of all Californians. Right now, the illegal and offshore operators are reaping these benefits, and they are bleeding us dry. ”
Transparency from operators
The measure requires sportsbook operators to carry out annual audits and report their findings to government regulators. It is also an attempt to keep sports betting away from minors and to fund problem gambling programs.
“A legal market for sports betting will provide protection for consumers and children,” said Cerda. “This measure limits sports betting to highly regulated and safe facilities, requires age confirmation for digital efforts and prohibits advertising or marketing of sports betting to children and young adults.”
An attempt to get sports betting on this year’s ballot in California died during the legislative meeting in June. Senator Bill Dodd withdrew a bill, SCA 6, from being considered by a Senate committee after facing fierce opposition from state tribes.
“Given the deadlines for getting a goal on the November poll and the impact of COVID-19 on the audience’s ability to weigh in, we were unable to get the bill over the finish line this year,” Dodd said in a press release at. the time.
Legislators still hope to get the legislation back in 2022 and consider it.
Link to the original article via SportsBeezer: https://sportsbeezer.com/sportsbook/california-cities-are-measuring-sports-betting-for-the-2022-ballot/