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By Sharan Street
Published Oct 24, 2022

Gaming interests are all in on Propositions 26 and 27. Gaming interests are all in on Propositions 26 and 27. Image credit: Sergey Nivens   Shutterstock

10-24-22: Your Best Bet

In just three weeks and one day, we’ll all be taking a gamble on democracy. Will our chosen candidates secure their seats? Will voter turnout be strong enough to warrant faith in the democratic process? And which way will the electoral winds blow on various local measures?

But to have a say, you’ve got to vote. In both Santa Cruz and Watsonville, residents will face additional decisions on three citywide measures. Some of these measures will raise funds for specific purposes. Others—Santa Cruz’s Measure O and Watsonville’s Measures Q and Measure S—will affect the city’s general plans, which are roadmaps for future development. On top of that, voters will weigh in on bond measures for three different school districts and a parcel tax measure to raise funds for the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District. Details on all of these local measures, as well as statewide propositions, can be found on VotersEdge.org, which provides nonpartisan information courtesy of the League of Women Voters.


A Lot at Stake

Gambling is front and center in this election. Proposition 26 would allow in-person sports betting at tribal casinos, while Prop 27 would permit online sports betting. California’s tribal casinos and out-of-state betting apps like DraftKings and FanDuel have bet big on getting these propositions passed. But according to current polling, it’s looking unlikely the wagers will pay off. “The unpopularity of the sports gambling measures is apparently, at least in part, driven by voter cynicism about the motives of the measures’ backers, cynicism that may well be justified,” California Local reporter Jonathan Vankin writes.

For more on the issue, read Vankin’s article on the history of sports betting and Grace Gedye’s overview on the facts and figures of gaming in California—what’s legal, how much money is involved, and how many people are affected by gambling addiction issues.


The Future of Sports Betting in California Looks Dim

Why has the future of legalized sports betting in California suddenly become so bleak?
California will likely reject legal sports betting, despite being the state with the most pro sports franchises and the biggest potential gambling market.

A Guide to Gambling in the Golden State

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon is one of 82 tribal gaming operations in California.
In California, you can bet on a horse race, buy a lottery ticket, put money on poker in a card room and play slots at a tribal casino all in the same day.

How California Became the ‘Holy Grail’ for the Sports Betting Industry

Legally betting on football and other sports is possible thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court.
How a controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling created a national, legal sports gambling industry which now sees California as its own 'Holy Grail.'


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