California tribal gaming leaders are laying early groundwork for a potential 2028 ballot measure that would legalize both retail and online sports betting in the state. The effort reflects a shift toward a unified approach from California tribes following the failure of competing initiatives in 2022.
With more than 100 tribes in California, tribal leaders stress that any path forward will require a consensus before advancing a ballot initiative.
This approach results from the failure of competing 2022 measures backed by tribes and commercial operators, which were both rejected by voters after a fragmented and costly campaign.
At the same time, the growth of other betting platforms that are gray-market alternatives is increasing pressure on tribes to act, while still avoiding another divided effort.
The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) plans to conduct a feasibility study to determine how much revenue is being lost in the state, according to Vice Chair Victor Rocha Siva.
Sive also noted that the effects extend beyond tribal revenue, arguing that employees are also impacted because many workers tied to other betting platforms are not based in California.
Several major questions remain unresolved as tribes consider a future sports betting initiative.
These include how to distribute revenue fairly among tribes, particularly those without existing gaming operations. It’s also about how to involve commercial sportsbook operators like FanDuel and DraftKings. The goal is to structure an online betting framework that preserves tribal control while remaining competitive in a broader market.
One potential model is Florida, where the Seminole Tribe of Florida maintains control over online sports betting through a compact with the state. Under this system, all mobile wagers are legally routed through servers located on tribal land, allowing the tribe to operate statewide online betting while retaining exclusivity.
Commercial operators are not independently licensed but can partner with the tribe, providing market access without undermining tribal authority.
For California tribes, a similar framework could offer a way to balance sovereignty with the technical and marketing capabilities of established sportsbook companies.
A unified push toward legal sports betting in California would represent one of the most significant developments in the U.S. sports betting landscape. As the largest untapped sports betting market, California has the potential to generate billions in annual handle and revenue.
For major operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings, access to California would be transformative, but likely only through partnerships with tribes rather than independent licenses. This could reshape competitive dynamics, favoring companies willing to operate within a tribal-controlled framework.
While 2028 is still far away, it’s clear that momentum is building for a regulated sports betting market in California.
