At present, the state of California is one of the few U.S. territories actively seeking the legalization of sports betting. Considering sports betting is already legal in 37 American states, including the District of Columbia, it is not surprising that an increasing number of legislators see potential advantages in fully legalized betting. One organization at the forefront of this push for legalization is Eagle1 Acquisition Corp. A recent statement from PlayUSA highlighted that Kasey Thompson, a spokesperson for Eagle1 Acquisition Corp, upheld their intention to gather signatures for a referendum on sports betting in November.
Despite the company’s and Thompson’s pronounced advocacy for betting authorization, the future of this venture is not yet cemented. If the initiative for the legalization of sports betting is to be put on the ballot, a total of 874,641 valid signatures need to be collected. These signatures must be gathered and validated within the next four months, with a deadline of April 23, 2024.
As Thompson elucidated, while Eagle1 is set to begin the signature drive, completion hinges on garnering adequate backing . “I’m going to initially this venture, yet I am counting on additional support from other operators, including those outside the state. If no one else ventures to participate, then the signature campaign will inevitably be shorter,” he stated.
Stating his support for the legalization of betting, Thompson affirmed that while Eagle1 is willing to kickstart the signature campaign, it won’t necessarily guarantee its conclusion without substantial industry and stakeholder support, specifically from the state’s native tribes. Upon receiving the title and summary, Eagle1 is said to be ready to rollout 1.2 million petitions that are eligible for the signature of California residents.
The Divisive Nature of the Sports Betting Initiative Amidst the State’s Tribes
The campaign for the legalization of sports betting in California has met with staunch resistance from the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA). In a recent communique, the association beseeched Eagle1 to retract its support for the initiative. This correspondence reflected the shared sentiment of 28 independent tribes, along with the CNIGA, and denounced the sports betting proposal.
Despite the vocal opposition from the CNIGA and several tribes, Thompson affirmed that there are tribes that support their proposal. He noted that a quartet of tribes have declared their support, with an expectation that others may follow their lead. Thompson intimated: “There’s significant dissatisfaction amongst our constituents, who feel betrayed and misled by CNIGA.”
Turning his attention to the monetary implications of the sports betting proposal, Thompson forecast that all of the state’s 110 tribes stand to profit. He speculatively calculated that within the first five-year period of adding games like craps and roulette alongside sports betting, each tribe could gain upward of $50 million.
Nevertheless, for the proposal to even reach the ballot, as indicated earlier, close to 900,000 signatures are necessary. Following that, Californian electoral support will then be sought for the initiative.
