Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Legal California Sports Betting Clears Key Hurdle
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
June 3, 2020

Share

The odds improved Tuesday that California voters will have their say on legalizing sports betting on the November 2020 ballot.

A proposal from state Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and Assemblymember Adam Gray (D-Merced) to generate hundreds of millions of dollars with legalized sports betting cleared a key committee Tuesday.

Portrait of Adam Gray

“Legalized sports wagering will generate hundreds of millions of dollars for vital services in our most vulnerable communities.” — Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced

“The legalization of sports wagering gives California an opportunity to provide much-needed revenue to our state during tough economic times,” Sen. Dodd said. “Because sports betting will continue to occur regardless of its legality. A vote for my bill is a vote to regulate the industry, to protect consumers, and to ensure California gets its fair share. I’ll be working with stakeholders as we continue to refine and advance the measure through the legislative process.”

Said Gray: “Illegal sports wagering goes on every day unregulated and untaxed in California. Legalized sports wagering will generate hundreds of millions of dollars for vital services in our most vulnerable communities.”

Betting at Racetracks, Via Mobile Devices

Under the proposal, tribal casinos and the state’s major racetracks would be authorized to operate sports wagering at their facilities and via mobile devices, with strict third-party age and identity verification. Estimates put illegal sports wagering in the United States at $150 billion a year. The inclusion of mobile wagering is essential to convert a substantial percentage of the illegal market and ensure the state realizes meaningful revenue increases.

The legislation would require safeguards to verify gamblers’ ages and identities, and technology would be used to make sure that mobile gambling devices are physically within California’s borders.

The constitutional amendment introduced by Sen. Dodd and Assemblyman Gray would require statewide voter approval before sports wagering is allowed.

The proposal, like others before it, is controversial in part because of competition between gambling interests including card rooms, which offer table games like blackjack and poker.

Experts say the California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act would generate $500 million to $700 million in a mature market with at least $200 million expected in the first year. Revenue generated from legalization could support public education, infrastructure, and other needs when COVID-19 is shrinking revenues to state and local governments.

Supreme Court Lifted Ban on Sports Betting

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting, permitting states to authorize the practice. Twenty-two states have legalized sports wagering, and others, like California, are considering legislation.

The constitutional amendment introduced by Sen. Dodd and Assemblyman Gray would require statewide voter approval before sports wagering is allowed.

The bill, which is supported by local governments and sports leagues, passed the Senate Governmental Organization Committee on Tuesday. The legislation now moves next to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Dodd and Gray hope to put the measure to voters on the November ballot. To reach the ballot, two-thirds of state lawmakers would have to give their blessing.

[activecampaign form=27]

DON'T MISS

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Long Respiratory Crisis

DON'T MISS

Musk Gives All Federal Workers 48 Hours to Explain What They Did Last Week

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Suspends 2 Players, Removes Another Amid Gambling Investigation

DON'T MISS

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

DON'T MISS

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

DON'T MISS

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

DON'T MISS

Fired Employees Fear Beloved Yosemite National Park Will Lose Its Luster

DON'T MISS

US and Ukraine Nearing Rare Earths Deal That Would Tighten Relationship

DON'T MISS

Trump Fires Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Two Other Military Officers

DON'T MISS

Less Is More: 5 Ingredient Dinners Are Easier Than You Think

UP NEXT

Wolfie the Handsome Pup Seeks Loving Home After Life in the Wild

UP NEXT

Federal Order to End DEI Policies Has Fresno Schools Scrambling for Answers

UP NEXT

Bullard Teacher Arrested for 10 Sex Felonies Involving Student

UP NEXT

Protester Hurls Tomato at Tulare Assemblywoman During High-Speed Rail Conference

UP NEXT

LA Mayor Bass Removes Fire Chief Kristin Crowley After Wildfire Response Criticism

UP NEXT

Rate the SE Fresno City Council Candidates Before You Vote

UP NEXT

Who Won Fresno GOP Leadership Fight? State Party Decides

UP NEXT

Voletta Wallace, Notorious B.I.G.’s Mother and Keeper of His Legacy, Dies at 78

UP NEXT

Fresno Police to Conduct Weekend DUI Checkpoint

UP NEXT

Should Fossil Fuel Companies Be Forced to Pay for Los Angeles Wildfire Losses?

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

7 hours ago

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

7 hours ago

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

13 hours ago

Fired Employees Fear Beloved Yosemite National Park Will Lose Its Luster

13 hours ago

US and Ukraine Nearing Rare Earths Deal That Would Tighten Relationship

13 hours ago

Trump Fires Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Two Other Military Officers

13 hours ago

Less Is More: 5 Ingredient Dinners Are Easier Than You Think

13 hours ago

Trump-Putin Summit Preparations Are Underway, Russia Says

14 hours ago

Warren Buffett Offers Trump Some Advice While Celebrating Berkshire’s Success

14 hours ago

Hungarians Will Decide Whether Ukraine Can Join the European Union, Orbán Says

14 hours ago

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Long Respiratory Crisis

ROME — Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pn...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Long Respiratory Crisis

7 hours ago

Musk Gives All Federal Workers 48 Hours to Explain What They Did Last Week

7 hours ago

Fresno State Suspends 2 Players, Removes Another Amid Gambling Investigation

7 hours ago

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

7 hours ago

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

13 hours ago

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

13 hours ago

Fired Employees Fear Beloved Yosemite National Park Will Lose Its Luster

13 hours ago

US and Ukraine Nearing Rare Earths Deal That Would Tighten Relationship

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend