Sports Betting in California: Voters Favor In-Person, Wary of Online

California has long been seen as a difficult market for the sports betting industry. According to the Citrin-POLITICO poll, about half of registered voters support opening sports betting counters at tribal casinos. However, an equal share of voters do not view online sports betting favorably. Only 37 percent of respondents approve of betting on sports over the internet.

Voter attitudes have softened noticeably since 2022. That year, Californians overwhelmingly rejected Proposition 26, which proposed betting at tribal casinos, and Proposition 27, which provided for online sports betting. The state's largest and most profitable tribal casinos carry significant weight in local politics. As a result, any plan to expand betting must receive the tribes' approval.

The tribes' stance on in-person betting sends a positive signal. Even so, the tribes are not rushing the issue. Some tribal leaders have said the topic could come up as early as 2026. There is no vote scheduled for this year. If the three racetracks are included, betting could be offered at roughly 65 locations, including more than 60 tribal casinos.

Without online betting, revenue potential may remain limited. In that case, California may adopt a model that looks more like Washington State than Florida or New York. It is also unclear whether tribes would work with commercial partners if online betting is approved in the future. Some tribes accuse prediction market companies of violating state gambling laws and threatening tribal sovereignty.