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Broad Coalition of Tribes and Community Leaders Vows to Defeat Deceptive Corporate Online Gambling Proposition Which is Now Eligible for November 2022 Ballot

Broad Coalition of Tribes and Community Leaders Vow to Defeat Deceptive Corporate Online Gambling Proposition Now That Signatures Are Being Submitted

Sacramento, CA – With news today that the California Secretary of State deemed the Corporate Online Gambling Proposition eligible for the November 2022 California ballot, a coalition of California Indian tribes, public safety, business, social justice leaders and advocates for the homeless reiterated strong opposition and vowed to defeat the measure.

The coalition noted that polling shows the measure is very under water with voters. Opposition is at 65 percent and support is only at 25 percent. 

“The Corporate Online Gambling Proposition would legalize online and mobile sports gambling – turning virtually every cell phone, laptop, tablet and gaming console into a gambling device, increasing the risks of underage and problem gambling,” said Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. “We will run a vigorous campaign against this measure and are confident the voters will see through the deceptive promises being made by these out-of-state gambling corporations.”

“At the same time, we’re confident voters will support the Tribal Sports Wagering Act, which will allow in-person sports betting at highly regulated tribal casinos and licensed horse racing tracks in California,” said Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “Our measure represents a responsible, incremental approach to allowing sports wagering in California without the risks of opening up every connected device to online gambling.” 

Paul Boden, Executive Director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project, a statewide alliance committed to ending poverty and homelessness, said:“As we so clearly learned with the State Lottery and our public schools, it’s simply bad public policy to attempt to fund homelessness and mental health programs with promises of a small piece of the online gambling corporations’ profits. Unhoused Californians need help, but this is not the right way to do it. We’ve heard these empty promises before.”

David Leonhardi, President of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of San Diego County: “Online and mobile gambling are especially attractive to youth, and the Corporate Online Gambling Propositionlacks critical safeguards to prevent underage gambling, exposing our kids to increased risks of addiction and problem gambling.”

“Our support of the Tribal Sports Wagering Act is consistent with our long-standing support for disenfranchised communities to become self-sufficient,” said Rick L. Callender, President of the California Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP. “Accordingly, the CA/HI NAACP has grave concerns about the impacts that a massive expansion of online and mobile gambling would have on problem gambling in California—particularly among youth and communities of color.”

“This November ballot has the potential to greatly impact the progress California tribes have made toward self-sufficiency in the last two decades. Time and again, California voters have stood with Indian tribes to support gaming on tribal lands while rejecting initiatives that would hurt tribes,” said Vice-Chairwoman Beth Glasco, Barona Band of Mission Indians. “We’re confident that the voters will once again stand with us in allowing sports wagering on tribal lands, and against a massive expansion of online and mobile gambling controlled by out-of-state gambling corporations.”