Press Release
For Immediate Release

Contact: James May
(916) 754-7540
james@cniga.com

CNIGA Endorses Second Tribally Sponsored Sports Wagering Initiative

February 15, 2022

VALLEY CENTER, CA—The California Nations Indian Gaming Association voted to support the “The Age-Verified Tribal Online and In-Person Sports Wagering Regulatory Act” at a membership meeting on February 10.

“From CNIGA’s point of view, tribal operators, who are regulated at three levels of government, are the most natural fit to conduct sports wagering, a right only recently conferred on all 50 states,” said CNIGA Chairman James Siva. “After out-of-state commercial operators entered their own ballot initiative, some of our tribes thought a second initiative was needed to counter what we view as an aggressive expansion of commercial gaming into the California gaming market.

Last week’s vote does not alter CNIGA’s previous support for the “California Sports Wagering Regulation and Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act”, which has already qualified for the November ballot. CNIGA’s members voted to support the qualified measure unanimously in 2020.

“Tribal government gaming is the only form of gaming that is regulated at three levels of government and in keeping sports wagering with tribes, as both initiatives would do, promotes CNIGA’s vision of a well-regulated gaming industry.”

“Although tribes are not in unison on a path toward online sports wagering, there is no question that Indian Country is united in their fierce opposition to any corporate attempt to legalize online gambling.”

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