The California Democratic Party has recommended that those in the state vote against a proposal that would legalise online betting.
The party – which dominates California elections, having controlled both houses of the state legislature since 1996 – announced its official list of endorsements for ballot measures that will appear in the 2022 November election.
That election will include two ballot measures related to sports betting. Tribe-backed Proposition 26, titled the California Legalize Sports Betting on American Lands Initiative. would allow for retail sports betting only on tribal lands.
Proposition 27, meanwhile, is backed by major online operators such as FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. It would permit only online sports betting, but includes high requirements to receive a licence, including a $100m licence fee that would almost certainly keep all but a handful of businesses out of the market.
Proposition 27 is officially titled the California Solutions to Homelessness And Mental Health Support Act, with money raised by its 10% tax rate and licence fees going towards homelessness-related causes.
The Democratic Party declined to make an endorsement either way on the tribal measure. However, it endorsed a “no” vote on Proposition 27.