You’d by no means understand it from the incessant TV advertisements, however troubled horse racing would significantly profit from a sports activities betting initiative on the November poll.
In reality, Proposition 26 is seen by some as a savior of thoroughbred racing in California.
It could enable sports activities betting on skilled video games — soccer, and so on.— at tribal casinos and 4 horse racetracks: Santa Anita, Del Mar, Los Alamitos and Golden Gate.
The aim is to draw extra bettors to the tracks, the place attendance has slumped lately.
“We’ve had bother introducing the game to younger folks,” says Gary Fenton, board chairman of Thoroughbred Homeowners of California. “Our demographic is outdated.”
Sports activities betting, which is against the law in California apart from horse racing, would additionally carry extra gamblers into tribal casinos. And on line casino playing can be upgraded by allowing roulette and craps. They’re now forbidden within the state.
Bettors would have to be not less than 21. Betting on highschool or faculty video games would nonetheless be unlawful. There’d be a ten% state tax on sports-wagering income on the tracks. The casinos have dedicated to paying the state 15%.
However non-public polling reveals Proposition 26 operating far behind and more likely to lose together with one other, vastly completely different sports activities betting initiative, Proposition 27.
Proposition 27 would legalize on-line sports activities betting. There’d be the identical 10% tax and age restrictions as below 26.
A ballot revealed final week by the Public Coverage Institute of California confirmed Proposition 27 is supported by solely 34% of probably voters and opposed by 54%. Meaning we are able to begin writing its obit.
One huge cause each measures are shedding is that Proposition 26’s primary backers, tribes, concern the approval of on-line sports activities betting greater than they need in-person sports activities wagering of their casinos. Their high precedence is the defeat of Proposition 27.
So, they haven’t been selling their very own measure. No surprise it hasn’t generated broad help. Just about all their effort and cash has gone into pummeling 27.
Tribes imagine it’s a risk to their casinos as a result of straightforward on-line betting can be allowed at dwelling on a smartphone or laptop computer. No have to drive miles to a on line casino to gamble.
And it’s not simply the net sports activities betting that tribes concern. It’s what they suppose would come subsequent: on-line poker, blackjack and slots — common on line casino video games which can be far more worthwhile than sports activities betting.
Tribes presently have a monopoly on on line casino playing in California. Voters gave it to them. They really feel that’s threatened by Proposition 27, sponsored primarily by out-of-state on-line pursuits, together with FanDuel and DraftKings.
Though 15% of the tax — presumably as much as $75 million — would go to some tribes with out casinos, the overwhelming majority of tribes adamantly oppose 27. The bigger casinos presently share almost $150 million with tribes working small casinos or none in any respect.
Voters merely aren’t shopping for what the Proposition 27 camp has been attempting to promote.
In the meantime, an obscene report $470 million already has been raised by either side on this TV advert conflict.
Voters are fed up with the advert bombardment and confused, I determine.
Californians appear content material with the playing that exists. There are 66 tribal casinos, 84 card rooms, 29 gala's with racetracks and 23,000 shops promoting lottery tickets.
You too can guess on horse races at dwelling — the one sport California OKs for on-line wagering.
Racing’s efforts to carry extra folks to the tracks weren’t helped by image-damaging thoroughbred fatalities in 2019. Greater than 100 horses died at California tracks that 12 months. Since then, the trade has reformed its horse medicating, and deaths have dropped dramatically.
However on this poll contest, horse racing has been left within the lurch. It’s by no means talked about.
And with Proposition 26 not even selling itself, why ought to voters purchase into it? Proposition 27 has at all times been a awful guess. They’re each losers.
Subsequent time, the tracks ought to choose a greater horse.
George Skelton is a Los Angeles Instances columnist.