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California Business Leaders and Small Business Advocates Oppose the Corporate Online Gambling Proposition

California Business Leaders and Small Business Advocates Oppose the Corporate Online Gambling Proposition

Deceptive measure would send 90% of online sports gambling profits out of state without creating new jobs or making any real investments in California.

Sacramento, CA – Today, statewide business leaders and small business advocates announced strong opposition to the Corporate Online Gambling Proposition and joined the growing coalition to defeat the November 2022 statewide ballot measure. Sponsored by out-of-state, online gambling corporations like DraftKings and FanDuel, this deceptive ballot measure would legalize online and mobile sports gambling in California.

Opponents contend the Corporate Online Gambling Proposition is a direct attack on California’s local, brick-and-mortar tribal casinos that would jeopardize California jobs and economic progress. At the same time, the measure would send the vast majority of sports wagering profits out of state without creating any jobs or making any real investments in California. 

“As Native American people, we are proud of the fact that tribal casinos have proven to be powerful economic engines in tribal and non-tribal communities alike,” said Tracy Stanhoff, President of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California. “The Corporate Online Gambling Proposition is a direct threat to tribal casinos and the thousands of small businesses and workforce that depend on them.”

According to the American Gaming Association, California’s tribal casinos annually generate $20 billion in economic impact for the state economy, support 125,000 jobs, and share over $1.7 billion in revenues with state and local governments.   

“The Corporate Online Gambling Proposition was written for the sole benefit of out-of-state gambling corporations,” said Pat Fong Kushida, President & CEO of the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce. “This measure would give online gambling corporations near total control over the sports wagering market, effectively hijacking any local economic benefits for our small businesses, while sending 90% of profits from sports gambling out-of-state and even out of country.”

Julian Canete, President of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce said, “This reckless measure would turn virtually every cell phone, tablet, laptop and video game console in California into a gambling device—exposing our kids and other vulnerable communities to the highly addictive nature of online gambling. All at the same time, it would jeopardize good-paying jobs and revenues for our communities and economy.”

These business leaders join a broad coalition of California Indian tribes, civil rights, public safety, faith leaders and advocates for the homeless that strongly oppose the Corporate Online Gambling Proposition.

The following business organizations, representing well over 1,500,000 California business owners, OPPOSE the Corporate Online Gambling Proposition*. View a complete coalition list here:

• American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California
• California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce
• California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
• California Black Chamber of Commerce
• Asian Business Association of San Diego
• Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
• Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce
• La Mesa Chamber of Commerce
• Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce
• Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association
• Sacramento Asian Chamber of Commerce
• San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
• San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce
• Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce
• Southwest California Legislative Council
• Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce

*Partial List