Poll Finds California Voters Warming to Legalized Sports Betting, But Tribes Hold the Key
California voters may be ready to revisit the question of legalized sports betting — though any path forward will almost certainly require tribal leadership.
A recent POLITICO–Citrin Center–Possibility Lab survey of more than 1,400 registered voters found that 60% of Californians are open to legalizing online sports betting. Among them, 25% said legalization is “long overdue,” while 35% said it “might make sense” but would need more details.
Still, 40% of respondents opposed legalization, citing concerns about gambling addiction. Of those, 21% described themselves as “wary of legalization,” while 19% warned it would be a “huge mistake.”
Support was notably stronger among men, with 64% in favor, compared to 55% of women.
Tribal Leadership Seen as Crucial
Despite voter interest, any potential ballot measure will depend on California’s tribes, who wield significant influence over the state’s gaming industry.
In 2022, two competing sports betting initiatives — Prop 26 and Prop 27 — both failed to gain traction. Prop 27, backed by DraftKings and FanDuel, received just 16.6% support, while Prop 26, the tribal-backed retail wagering measure, earned 29.9%. Neither came close to the majority threshold needed.
Because ballot initiatives in California can only appear in even-numbered election years, the earliest voters might see another proposal is 2026.
Industry Pulls Back, Tribes Take the Lead
After the stinging 2022 defeats, national betting companies have stepped back, pledging to let California’s tribes guide any future legalization efforts.
At the 2024 SBC Summit North America, both FanDuel and DraftKings acknowledged that the future of California sports betting — whether online or retail — will be determined by the tribes.
“We need to prove to the tribes that we can be a good partner,” said Frank Sizemore, vice president of strategic partnerships at FanDuel.
For now, the debate over sports betting in the Golden State remains open, but one thing is clear: no deal gets done without the tribes.
