Two ballot initiatives have been filed in the US state of California with the aim of granting tribes exclusive rights to retail and online sports betting.

Reeve Collins, CEO of Pala Interactive, was named as the contact for media inquiries when the proposals were submitted on October 27th. 

Initiatives 

The first initiative is named “The Sports Wagering Regulations and Tribal Gaming Protection Act” and outlines how sports betting would work under tribes in California.

This requires them to contribute 15 percent of their adjusted sports wagering gross gaming revenue to a tribal sports wagering revenue trust fund.

Additionally, 10 percent of this sum will also be given to the California Homelessness and Mental Health Fund. 

Sports betting advertising must explicitly target only individuals aged 21 and over.

The second initiative is “The Tribal Gaming Protection Act”, which specifies that sports betting would be exclusively offered through tribes in California.

Scepticism

Pala Interactive’s actions have forced criticisms from tribal leaders and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) for failing to consult with tribal governments before filing these initiatives.

These ballot initiatives are also surprising due to the fact that voters in California barely a year ago, rejected sports betting proposals of a similar nature. 

Plan of action

Pala Interactive now has 180 days to gather the required number of signatures for these initiatives through a random sample method, a potential deadline set in late April 2024.

This random sample method requires election officials to verify a minimum of 500 signatures in their office.

A petition must also be filed with the county election officials by April 23rd 2024.

Additionally, a 65-day notice period between submission and signature collection is mandated for those submitting a ballot to the attorney general, thus signature collection may begin on the 1st of January.

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