Posted on: October 29, 2023, 02:00h.
Last updated on: October 29, 2023, 12:21h.
A pair of California sports betting proposals emerged on Friday, triggering a swift response from other tribal gaming operators in the state. These proposals were filed with the state attorney general’s office, but the tribe behind them remains unidentified.
A filing for The Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act was submitted on October 27 by Ryan Waltz. The document indicates that media and public inquiries should be directed to Reeve Collins, fueling speculation that the filing may be associated with the Pala Band of Mission Indians, owners of the Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Northeast San Diego County.
“IMHO (in my humble opinion) it’s Pala. It’s interactive. It’s DOA (dead on arrival),” said Victor Rocha on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
Rocha, a member of the Pechanga Band of Indians and conference chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, swiftly criticized the filing, emphasizing his role in the California sports betting debate.
California Tribal Gaming Group Now Supporting Sports Betting
A pair of sports betting ballot initiatives failed in California during the 2022 midterm elections, but recent rumors suggest that Pala Chairman Robert Smith contacted other tribal gaming leaders in California to gauge interest in renewing sports betting for the 2024 ballots. However, it seems that these talks were met with resistance.
The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) expressed disappointment in a statement, stating that the sponsors of the two recently filed initiatives did not consult or seek input from the State’s largest tribal gaming association before submitting them to the Attorney General.
While the sponsors of the initiatives may believe they know what is best for tribes, CNIGA encourages them to engage with Indian Country and ask for input, rather than dictate.
Boyd Gaming Not Involved
Speculation arose that Boyd Gaming, who acquired Pala Interactive last year, may have been involved in the filing. However, David Strow, Boyd’s VP of Corporate Communications, clarified in a tweet that Boyd is not involved in the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act.
Considering Boyd Gaming’s partnership with the Wilton Rancheria Tribe in operating the Sky River Casino in Elk Grove, California, and its ownership stake in FanDuel, the largest online sportsbook operator in the US, it is understandable that the company would avoid any conflicts with California tribes on the sports betting front.