California Initiates Signature Collection for Legalising Sports Betting

The process of gathering signatures to legalise betting has commenced in California. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has granted approval for the collection of signatures for two petitions advocating for the legalisation of sports betting specifically for members of the state's Native American tribes. Presently, gambling is prohibited in Indian tribal areas.

The proposed constitutional amendment includes a provision to prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from engaging in betting activities. One of the petition's stipulations is the implementation of a tax on the profits of participating representatives of Indian tribes, amounting to a maximum of 25%, with an additional 1% allocated to the state to cover regulatory expenses. To be considered by California authorities, the initiatives must collectively amass 874,641 signatures each by the end of April.

Should the requisite number of signatures be obtained, the proposed amendment will be presented at the state general election scheduled for November 2024. The primary objectives of these initiatives are to grant tribes exclusive control over betting activities in California.