California lawmakers consider legalizing sports betting

Mark Demsky reports

ADVANCING THROUGH COMMITTEE.AND AS FOX FORTY'S MARK DEMSKYTELLS US TONIGHT THE REAL WORKON THAT BILL BEGINS NOW.THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION COAUTHORED BY SENATOR BILL DODDTHAT WOULD LEGALIZE SPORTSBETTING IN THE STATE WOULDONLY ALLOW IT TO TAKE PLACE ATTRIBAL CASINOS IN MAJOR PORTSRACING VENUES, LEAVINGCALIFORNIA IS CARD ROOMS OUTIN THE COLD.

THAT'S WHY IT'S ABIT IRONIC TO FIND OUT THEBILL'S BIGGEST OPPOSITION ISCOMING FROM THE TRIBESOBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT SOMECHALLENGES.WE'VE GOT THE TRIBES THATARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE WAYTHIS IS PROCEEDED FOX 40OBTAINED A LETTER SENT TOSENATOR DODD YESTERDAY FROMTHE CALIFORNIA TRIBALGOVERNMENTS.21 MEMBERS WHO OPERATEGAMING FACILITIES EXPRESSTHEIR QUOTE DEEPDISAPPOINTMENT AND STRONGOPPOSITION TO THE INITIATIVE,THEIR MAIN CONCERNS CARD ROOMSHAVING THEIR CURRENT GAMECEMENTED INTO LAW KEEPING THEMSAFE FROM CONSTANT ASSAULT OFTRIBES AND THE STATE ATTORNEYGENERAL AND SECONDLY ONLINEGAMING TRIBES DON'T LIKE ITBECAUSE OF THE CONVENIENCEABETTING AT HOME.

THEY WANTPEOPLE INSIDE THEIR CASINOSIT'S A DELICATE BALANCE,I THINK RESPECT FOR WHO AREWORKING WITH REALLY WILL HELPSOMEONE YOU RESPECT IS ONETHING BUT THE SENATORSTRONGEST ALLY MAY JUST BE THECOVID-19 SIZE BUDGET HOLE THESTATE IS CURRENTLY FACED WITH.YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'VE GOT ABUDGET SHORTFALL BETWEEN 25AND.$50 BILLION EVERY LITTLEBIT HELPS.

IT IS A PRIME TIMEFOR THIS BILL IT'S IT'SSOMETHING THAT THAT MAKESSENSE THAT THERE'S OF THE ONLYOTHER OPPOSITION TO THIS BILLARE PEOPLE THAT JUST DON'TWANT GAMBLING AT ALLCALIFORNIA GAMING ASSOCIATIONESTIMATES THAT $10 BILLION INILLEGAL SPORTS FANS ARE MADEEACH YEAR IN THE GOLDEN STATE.REGULATING IT AND TAXING ITUNDER SENATOR DODD'S PLANWOULD GENERATE 5 TO700 MILLION ANNUALLY WHICH ISWHY LEGISLATORS ARE WARMING TOTHE IDEA OF LEGALIZING SPORTSBETTING CERTAINLY THE BUDGETHAS HELPED.GAIN MOMENTUM FOR PEOPLETHAT MIGHT NORMALLY NOT HAVEBEEN REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THISAND TIME IS SHORT ON THESPORTS BETTING INITIATIVEBECAUSE IT ALSO MUST PASS BOTHTHE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY FLOORSBY THE END OF THIS MONTH INORDER FOR IT TO BE ON THENOVEMBER BALLOT.AT THE CAPITOL MARK DEMSKYFOX 40 NEWS.LECTURES AT SAC STATE HELD