A survey conducted for a committee of California tribal gaming nations earlier this month shows very little has changed among voters’ attitudes a year after vehemently rejecting two constitutional amendments to legalize California sports betting. That finding comes as proponents of a new measure seek to put the question back on the ballot in a little less than a year.
FM3 Research conducted the poll earlier this month. Among the 837 respondents who said they’re likely to vote in next year’s general election, only 30% offered some kind of support for legalizing online sports betting. Likely voters polled a year ago gave the measure just 28% support.
Conversely, opposition in the two surveys barely dropped, with 63% against it this year compared to 65%. Those with strong objections accounted for 46% of the total responses. That was down from 49% last year, but it’s still a near majority, showing any effort to legalize California sports betting next year has a steep hill to climb.
California Voters ‘Likely To Overwhelmingly Reject’ Sports Betting in ‘24
The polling firm also created “a simulated campaign” for those surveyed based on a proposed measure that’s currently before the California Secretary of State. Pollsters gave respondents an identical number of arguments for and against the amendment, and only 33% said they’d definitely or likely vote yes after considering those arguments. That’s compared to 59% who remained opposed and 8% undecided.
Last year, California voters turned down Proposition 26, which would have allowed sports betting only at tribal-based casinos and state-licensed racetracks by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Proposition 27, a measure to permit online sports betting fiercely opposed by most of the state’s tribes, suffered an even worse defeat, with less than 18% voting yes.
“This survey finds California voters continue to oppose online and mobile sports wagering just as they did in November 2022, when Proposition 27 was overwhelmingly defeated,” FM3’s polling memo stated. “These survey results suggest voters in November 2024 are likely to overwhelmingly reject any ballot initiative that seeks to allow in-person and online sports wagering in the state.”
Not a great endorsement for the future of California sportsbook apps.
Another Expensive Campaign Ahead?
Given the nature of the measures’ defeats last year, many in the gaming industry did not expect any effort to move forward for the 2024 cycle, thinking 2026 would be the next best chance to legalize California sports betting. However, two proposed initiatives were sent to the state last month for review. While both say they would only allow tribes to offer sports betting, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association came out strongly against them. Earlier this month, CNIGA’s board voted 18-0 to formally reject both, and the group’s chair called on proponents to stop their efforts.
Recent media reports show that’s not likely to happen for now. Kasey Thompson, a spokesperson for the latest proposals, told the San Jose Mercury News earlier this month that supporters would spend $25 million to get the question on next year’s ballot. For that to happen, they would need at least 874,641 signatures from California registered voters in a roughly five-month window.
Tribal gaming nations raised nearly $250 million to defeat Prop 27 last year, doing so at the expense of the measure they supported, and state records show that the committees they created remain active and have money remaining in their accounts.
The Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming reported that it had nearly $6.3 million remaining in its account as of last month. Earlier this year, Californians for Tribal Sovereignty and Safe Gaming said it still had more than $358,000 left in its fund.
The public comment period for the latest measures ended earlier this week. Proponents will have a chance to amend the initiatives through the end of this week.
Stay tuned as BetCalifornia.com will continue to keep you up to date on all the latest sports betting news. We will be sure to have all the best California sportsbook promos when they eventually become available.
