Published in cooperation between 99 bitcoins and San Jose Inside

Powerful figures from California's dominant gaming tribes stated that sports betting will not come to the Golden State until at least 2028. They made this declaration during ICE's Tribal Partnerships Seminar in Barcelona, where they talked about gambling's future in California and their plans for potential growth. ICE is the International Casinos Exhibitions.

Tribal Leaders Set Clear Timeline

Big names from California's tribal gaming world showed a united front about sports betting's future. The panel brought together Catalina Chacon from the Pechanga Band of Indians, James Siva, who leads the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and Johnny Hernandez from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Jason Giles from the Indian Gaming Association joined them, too.

During discussions focusing on gambling trends and prospects in California, these leaders clarified their position: Sports betting remains years away from implementation in the state.

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However, James Siva explained that responses show how some Californians remain skeptical about bringing sports gambling to their state. The tribal representatives agreed that while change might happen by 2028, tribes must lead such efforts rather than lean toward corporate gambling interests.

The tribes seemed comfortable with this slow approach, preferring to get things right rather than rushing into new gambling territory without proper groundwork and public backing.

California Gambling Packs Economic Punch

California stands as a genuine gambling powerhouse with impressive stats to prove it. With the world's fifth-largest economy and position as America's third most populous state, California represents the ultimate prize for gambling operators.

The state hosts 87 tribal gaming locations, making it a major force in American gambling. The Pechanga and San Manuel tribes run California's biggest gaming operations: Pechanga Resort Casino and Yaamava' Resort & Casino. These places feature over 5,000 slot machines each, bigger than most gambling spots in Macau or Las Vegas.

The economic impact of tribal gaming reaches far beyond the casinos themselves. California tribal gaming supports 184,701 jobs statewide and generates more than $34.6 billion in annual economic impact. This figure gains perspective when compared to the entire United States commercial gambling industry, which generated $66.65 billion in 2023.

This remarkable economic engine was built from nothing by the state's tribes, who transformed their opportunities into thriving enterprises benefiting both tribal communities and the broader California economy.

Slow Growth Beats Fast Mistakes

The tribal leaders stressed they won't rush into sports betting and risk damaging what they've built. Siva, Hernandez, and Chacon all emphasized that California tribes worked too hard to risk their current success with hasty expansion.

Right now, they focus on building agreement among all 109 California tribes about how gambling should grow, waiting for public support to increase naturally and taking a careful approach to ensure responsible expansion.

This cautious strategy reflects the tribes' long-term view of gambling as a foundation for tribal economic growth rather than just a money-maker. Their approach differs greatly from the aggressive market strategies often pushed by corporate gambling operators.

What Might California Sports Betting Look Like?

During the panel, they discussed what form sports betting could eventually take in California if approved. Catalina Chacon pointed to Florida's "Hub-and-Spoke" model as a good fit for California.

The Florida approach keeps tribal control by placing betting servers on reservation land while letting people place bets throughout the state. This differs from systems like Michigan's open market, which allows both tribal and corporate operators to offer sports betting.

The Hub-and-Spoke approach would keep tribes in charge of gambling operations while expanding sports betting access across California. This model fits the tribes' desire to control gambling growth while adapting to new technology.

Partnerships Possible But on Tribal Terms

Despite their protective stance toward tribal gambling interests, the tribes showed openness to working with corporate entities. But tribal gambling leaders made it clear such partnerships would face strict rules.

Any deals with gambling companies would face heavy regulation and demand total transparency. This stance comes from the fundamental difference in how tribes view gambling compared to corporate operators.

For California tribes, gaming means more than just profits; it provides a foundation for economic and social progress along with tribal sustainability. This shapes how they approach potential partnerships and their overall strategy for gambling growth.

The tribal representatives sent a clear message to corporate operators: partnerships remain possible, but only on tribal terms with full respect for tribal priorities. Those unwilling to accept these conditions can look elsewhere.

History Shapes Current Strategy

The tribes' careful approach to sports betting reflects their history with gambling in California. Tribal gaming emerged through decades of legal fights, negotiations and planning, growing from small beginnings into a major economic force.

This past shapes their current thinking. Having fought for their rights to run gaming facilities and built sophisticated operations from nothing, tribal leaders see sports betting as just the next chapter rather than a revolutionary opportunity requiring immediate action.

Their patient stance also shows awareness of sports betting challenges in other states, where tax rates, market saturation and promotional spending have sometimes created tough business conditions.

Market Implications

The extended timeline for California sports betting affects the broader gambling industry. As America's most populous state remains closed to legal sports wagering for at least four more years, operators must adjust their plans accordingly.

For gambling companies, the tribal announcement means continued waiting and possibly years of additional lobbying and relationship building with tribal partners. It also suggests that when California finally opens to sports betting, tribal interests will maintain substantial control over the market structure.

This reinforces the unique position tribal gaming holds in American gambling. Unlike corporate operators who can expand wherever laws allow, tribal gaming maintains special rights and relationships with governments based on tribal sovereignty and established agreements.

The tribes' Barcelona announcement signals that despite rapid sports betting growth across America, California will move at its own pace, guided by tribal priorities and public readiness rather than industry pressure or corporate interests.