A push in California to legalize online sports betting reached an important milestone on Tuesday, as more than 1.6 million signatures were gathered to successfully push the initiative to the state’s ballot on Nov. 8.
Voters will have an opportunity to choose between bringing sports betting online or limiting it to “brick and mortar” facilities, a separate measure that also previously reached the million-signatures threshold. In-person wagers could happen at places like tribal casinos and horse race tracks, though stadiums and arenas would be on hold for on-site lounges seen in other states.
New York and its population of 19 million set a record for online wagers in a month when the state went live in January. Overall, they bet $1.62 billion and the state made $57 million in tax revenue that month. With a population of 39 million, California would surely break that mark. If the state mandated that online betting begin no later than Aug. 29, 2023, the estimate of annual taxable money is $50 billion.
The online measure has 85% of taxable revenue earmarked for homelessness and mental health support and 15% for tribes not participating in the market. According to the Regional Task Force on Homelessness San Diego, state polling shows 59% of residents canvassed support the online measure. It needs 50% in yes votes to pass.