Poll: California Voters Ready for Legalized Online Sports Betting

• According to a Politico poll, 60% of 1,400 registered California voters are in favor of legalized sports betting
• California men are more in favor of legalized sports betting than women
• Sports betting will likely have to be legalized through a ballot measure and be led by California tribal leaders

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Voters may be ready to reexamine legalized California sports betting.

According to a recent POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey of more than 1,400 registered California voters, 60% of respondents said they were open to legalizing online sports betting, 25% said it should be legal and is long overdue, while 35% of respondents said it “might make sense” but needed more details.

While voters seem to be open to legalized online sports betting, the fate of any potential voting measure likely resides in the hands of California tribes.

Voters Approve of Online Sports Betting

According to the poll results, of the 40% of respondents who were not in favor of legalized online sports betting, the majority shared concerns about increased gambling addiction.

Of the respondents who did not support online sports betting legalization, 21% said they were “wary of legalization” while 19% said it would be a “huge mistake.”

As is typically the case, more men supported the legalization of online sports betting. 64% of male respondents were open to legalizing the new form of gambling in the Golden State compared with 55% of women.

While voters seem to be in favor of legalized online sports betting, if the state hopes for a chance to approve the new form of gaming it will have to get the tribes on board for any potential voting referendum.

A 2022 voter referendum, backed by both DraftKings and FanDuel, to legalize California online sports betting failed at the polls after heavy opposition from state tribes.

Two California sports betting initiatives were on the November 2022 ballot and both failed to receive more than 30% of the vote.

Prop 27, the “California Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act,” only received 16.6% votes in favor of the proposition, well below the necessary 50% for legalization. Prop 27 aimed to legalize California online sports betting for operators partnered with California Tribes.

Prop 26 fared slightly better in the Golden State. Prop 26 received 29.9% yes votes, but again fell well short of what was needed for legalization. Prop 26, “Tribal Sports Wagering Act,” would have legalized retail sports betting for California Tribal Casinos, four state racetracks, and expanded gaming opportunities for tribal casinos.

California only allows for voting referendums on even years, so it could potentially see a referendum in 2026. However, efforts to craft a referendum by next year will likely not happen.

Tribes Will Lead Sports Betting Efforts

After the 2022 voter referendum failures, sports betting companies have taken steps back and pledged to allow California tribes to lead any future efforts to legalize sports betting.

At the 2024 SBC Summit North America meeting, FanDuel and DraftKings representatives both said the future of California sports betting, be it retail or online, will be controlled by the tribes.

Frank Sizemore, vice president of strategic partnerships with FanDuel, said at the summit that the tribes will lead any legalization efforts.

“We need to prove to the tribes that we can be a good partner,” he said.