Larry has decades of experience in the U.S. gambling industry, with a deep understanding of how casinos operate and evolve under changing regulations.Drawing on years of insight from Las Vegas and beyond - including work with the Las Vegas Sun, Reno Gazette-Journal and KFSM-TV 5NEWS - he specialises in uncovering the stories, trends and decisions that drive the casino industry across North America.
Two California card rooms have filed a lawsuit to block a November ballot question that would let voters decide if they want sports betting, roulette, and craps at tribal casinos.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
This comes as Californians could be asked in eight months to vote on this, and possibly other, ballot items dealing with sports betting and casino expansion.
Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood and Cal-Pac Rancho Cordova filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. The card rooms say the tribes’ November ballot question violates a state constitutional mandate that only one subject can be included in such ballot questions.
Nine California tribes spent $12.5 million to get the question on the November ballot. The question qualified for the ballot in May after the tribes collected more than one million valid signatures.
Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs Apply. Play Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, KY, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY), Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. (NC), Call or Text 800-889-9789 (TN).
Card Rooms Object to ‘Additional Measures’ in Ballot Question
According to the lawsuit, most of the ballot question concerns sports wagering, “including its legalization, regulation, and taxation.”
“However, this measure conceals two additional measures completely unrelated to sports wagering,” the lawsuit states.
The card rooms object to one item eliminating California’s ban on Las Vegas-style casinos and another that would enact a private-enforcement provision for gaming law violations.
The card rooms say the private-enforcement provision gives the tribes one-way permission to sue their card-room competitors over alleged violations.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $200 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Token expires 1/11/26. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: http://sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos . Ends 1/4/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Las Vegas-Style Games Banned In California
Under current law, California tribal casinos can offer slots, lottery games, and card games, but not Las Vegas-style table games or sports betting.
If voters approve the ballot question in November, tribal casinos could then offer table games and in-person sports betting inside casinos.
California’s card rooms can offer player-dealer games such as poker, but not Las Vegas-style casino games.
According to the California Gaming Association, California has 72 card rooms, including some with one or two tables and one with 270 tables.
DraftKings, FanDuel Back Online Sports Betting Initiative
Three other gaming initiatives could appear on the November ballot, including one backed by national online sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel. This initiative would allow online sports betting statewide.
The initiative would require the bookmakers to partner with the tribes. Most of the profits would go to the tribes, which would assist Californians who are homeless.
Supporters are confident they will collect enough signatures by the June deadline to get the online sports betting question on the November ballot. The mayors of Long Beach, Fresno, Sacramento, and Oakland have voiced support for the initiative.
Must be 21+ to participate (18+ in KY). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, IA, KY, KS, LA, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). CALL 1-877-770-STOP (LA). Must be present in LA (select parishes). Licensee partner Amelia Belle Casino. Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bets wager excluded from returns. New Customer only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
California Would Be Nation’s Largest Sports-Betting Market
California, the nation's most populous state, has about 40 million residents, making it a potentially lucrative market for the sports betting industry.
The largest sports betting market right now is New York, which is setting national sports wagering records. New York has about 20 million residents, half the population of California.
Texas and Florida have more residents than New York, but California also doesn’t have legal sports wagering. CA is currently working on putting betting legalization. If that goes through, California sports betting apps may go live in 2023/24.
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