California Sports Betting Update: Sportsbooks Ad Hits at ‘Wealthy’ Tribes – VIDEO

There are less than 100 days now until California voters decide if they want to legalize sports betting. And on Monday, the group behind a proposed constitutional amendment to allowing online wagering released an ad online that punches back at tribal gaming interests that oppose the measure.

A screen capture from the latest ad by Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support was released Monday. The group, which supports a measure to legalize online sports betting, says its initiative would help small tribes in the state. (Image: Californians for Solutions)

The 30-second spot is from “Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support.” It s the latest in a multi-million-dollar electoral battle royale that’s likely to set records for money spent on a campaign initiative.

“Californians for Solutions” is the committee supported by $100 million from sports betting operators Barstool Sportsbook, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Bally Bet, and WynnBET.

The group’s initiative, known as Proposition 27, would devote 85% of the tax revenue generated from online wagering to homelessness and mental health programs. But the spot released Monday (see below) focuses mostly on tribal economic development, where the other 15% would go.

The narrator in the ad states that Prop 27 is a “game changer” because it would help smaller tribes in the state, including those that aren’t engaged in gaming.

For years, California’s non-gaming Tribes have been left in the dust,” the narrator says. “Wealthy tribes with big casinos make billions while small tribes struggle in poverty.”

Under the proposed amendment, commercial sportsbooks would pay $100 million for a license. But they would have to establish a partnership with an in-state tribe. Tribes that wish to offer sports betting on their own could do so for a $10 million license. But they would be limited in how they could brand their app.

Tribes not involved in sports betting would be eligible to receive funding from the economic development fund established by the measure.