Is Gambling Really Coming To California Soon? – OC Weekly

The Golden State of the US remains full of potential. By 2024, seven states will allow online gambling and casinos within their borders, with New York and Maryland hot on their tails and may also join the group. California has had its fair share of attempts in the past, and the current situation may seem complicated but manageable. Getting caught up in the legalities of the current situation may seem confusing to an outside observer, as California strives to make all parties involved happy and follow the letter of the law, but anything can still happen around 2024.

Gambling is not foreign to California’s soil. Its residents currently have several options, including visiting the Native American casinos located on their land, horse track wagering, the official state lottery, and card rooms. While all of these require a physical presence, should any potential player indulge in online gambling, it’s only possible via 토토사이트 추천, using reputable and premium casino sites that Jaehoon mentions.

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No state wants to pass up on millions in tax revenue, which are usable for anything from managing the budget to investments or social programs. All states that successfully implemented online casinos and gambling have reported a resounding success, and California should be no different once all is said and done.

Offshore sites are currently the only option because they operate outside California’s borders but offer the same service local casinos are missing out on. California leads in the number of Indian-owned casinos, 81 to be exact, but the same tribes are the ones who are among the most impacted factions should the change happen. Online gambling would mean that anyone within state borders can access and play via their mobile phone, and casino owners fear this would be the end of their business or, at the least, be severely impacted.

A counter argument could be made from the Pennsylvania case, where four new casinos opened after the state legalized online casino gambling. The argument for player convenience lies where online casinos would supplement their brick-and-mortar counterparts. The convenience of gambling at any time and anywhere is something traditional casinos can’t offer, but the live games where players are physically present, the user experience, and the overall enjoyment of being at a physical casino are all attributes that cannot be replicated online.

Joseph Addabbo, the state senator of New York, made legislation that would funnel tax revenue from online gambling toward prevention and assistance for gambling. Public concerns are forming the general opinion, which is necessary when bills come to a public vote. When online gambling is made legal in California, it will lead to a rise in player numbers. Proposition 26 and 27, both were in favor of online gambling and were made to vote, failed in 2022 but a large majority. This is precisely why public opinion and local tribal support are vital to future success.

Funneling funds gained from taxing online gambling and from permission and operating costs could change public opinion towards favorable. As it currently stands, California’s constitution would need an amendment to accommodate such a large change in gambling laws. Nelson Rose, who teaches at Whittier College states that California is currently missing out on $20 billion or $30 billion from wagers, per year. Taxing such a lucrative market from 8% to 10% could fund social programs such as homelessness, public education, infrastructure, and others, as six states where online casinos are legal already do. Following the successful examples, California could copy and adjust its existing laws to better suit its current position.

With many groups pushing their best interest, the most recent duel between Eagle1 Acquisitions Corp and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association shows how much progress has been made, and it’s only a matter of “when” and not “if” online gambling will be legalized in California. Eagle One groups consist of sponsors and backers favoring the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act, with an estimated $400 million being made towards lobbying so far. The act would legalize online wagering and was brought together and amended so far following plenty of feedback.

December 5th, 2023 marks the date when it was submitted to Attorney General Rob Bonta, and it also included suggestions made by consulting with stakeholders working together on the act, online casino operators from other states, and many tribal leaders. Even though the act was brought down on December 15th, 2023, by the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, progress is still made, and negotiations have not ended. Making a deal and compromising with the native tribes is of crucial importance when striving to make online gambling a reality in California.

One more sign of progress was on January 4th, 2024, when California Attorney General Rob Bonta continued the initiative based on past events and made his two bailout initiatives public. With each proposition and amendment made, the reality of online gambling in California, in some form, is closer to becoming a reality. As native tribes have exclusive rights, thanks to the IGRA law, without their backing of the cause, not much else can be made.

Experts believe that California is sitting on anything between $20 to $30 billion per year in wagering, which is a much higher upper ceiling than all tribal casinos in California and North Nevada combined, which generated nearly $12 billion per year. Even Texas’s projected market is around $2 billion for the state from taxes and permissions. Should California beat Texas to make online gambling possible, it could earn up to $3 billion from taxes.

With 40 million residents, California is the most populous state in the US, and they don’t call her the Golden State without reason. The long-term potential of legal online gambling has everyone’s best interest involved. It’s only a matter of time before that dream becomes a reality. And online gambling can only bring other forms of online betting with it, as its success will pave the way for future legislation, and for the cause to be easily accepted in other states.