Lawmakers introduce amendment to legalize sports betting in California

[The Buzz]

California Assemblymember Adam Gray has filed a constitutional amendment to authorize sports wagering in the Golden State through a ballot referendum, which is a required step to legalize sports betting. With a population of nearly 40 million, California, which has failed miserably over the years in its attempts to legalize online gambling, would obviously be a huge and attractive new market.

From the Orange County Register:

Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) said in a statement the planned amendment would ideally be on the ballot by November 2020.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has shouldered the burden of bringing legal clarity to the issue of sports wagering and the rights of states under the Constitution,” Gray said. “Now it is the responsibility of the Legislature to determine the most prudent way forward.”

But any effort to legalize sports betting in the state faces an uphill battle just getting past the Legislature. California’s tangled web of gaming stakeholders, from the Native American tribes that operate casinos to cardrooms to horse racing tracks, has long complicated matters when it comes to legislating gambling.

To get on the ballot, a sports betting bill would need a two-thirds vote in the Legislature. Given the considerable lobbying power that gambling stakeholders wield in the state, garnering such support could be a serious challenge.

ACA 16 would amend Section 19, Article IV of California’s Constitution of State to give the legislature the power to authorize sports betting regulation. This would clear the way for legislation to be introduced to establish a regulatory framework and tax system for the vertical.

Assembly Governmental Organization Committee chair Gray explained that the amendment was filed in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May last year.

He noted that eight states currently allow legal wagering, with more than 35 considering legislative proposals. Sports betting was widely popular despite legal restrictions at federal and state level, with around $150 billion bet on sports illegally each year.

“Whether we like it or not, Californians are already betting on sports through illegal and often unscrupulous websites in foreign countries,” Gray continued.

“It is time to shine a light on this multibillion-dollar industry. We need to crack down on illegal and unregulated online gaming and replace it with a safe and responsible option which includes safeguards against compulsive and underage gambling, money laundering, and fraud."

Read more here: https://www.ocregister.com/2019/06/2...in-california/

[Cash Bonus]

Although it's still a while until November 2020 and anything can happen between now and that time, It would be miraculous if this amendment actually comes into effect. It already looks doubtful from reading the news article.