California sports betting propositions dealt a losing hand

It would have taken a royal flush for either of the California Sports Betting Propositions to pass during yesterday’s 2022 State Elections. And like the rare poker hand, both Proposition 26 and 27 came up empty as the residents of The Golden State said “no” in a resounding way.

Sports betting will remain illegal in California. Voters have rejected Prop 26 that would have expanded gambling on tribal lands, and Prop 27 that would have allowed online and mobile sports betting. #California #MidtermElection pic.twitter.com/RC8cIsbpHU

— CBS 8 San Diego (@CBS8) November 9, 2022

Proposition 26, which would have legalized sports betting at Native American casinos and licensed racetracks, failed by a wide margin, 70.4% to 29.6% as it received 3,779,247 votes to 1,585,714.

The “No on Proposition 26” campaign issued a statement on Tuesday night saying, “California voters were not fooled by Prop 26 and soundly rejected it.

“Prop 26 was not just a sports betting measure but a massive expansion of gambling by five wealthy tribes that included a poison pill aimed at taking market share away from highly regulated cardrooms that provide millions of dollars in tax revenue to communities and tens of thousands of jobs. Voters made it clear; Prop 26 is bad for communities, jobs, and California.”

Proposition 27, which would have legalized online and mobile sports betting for adults 21-years and older, failed by an even wider margin, 83.3% to 16.7%, as it received 4,479,250 votes to 894,945.

These numbers will change as ballots postmarked by Election Day have a week to arrive to be counted toward the final tally, but regardless sports wagering in California will now have to wait until 2024.