California Tribes Refute Claims of DraftKings, FanDuel Agreement
Posted on: April 3, 2025, 08:33h.
Last updated on: April 4, 2025, 08:47h.
- Tribes say there’s no agreement in place with commercial sportsbook operators
- They said a reporter wasn’t supposed to be at “private roundtable”
It appears as though commercial sportsbook operators may have committed another gaffe in California. Two days ago, a report surfaced implying that DraftKings and FanDuel made nice and landed an agreement with Golden State tribal gaming entities, but the tribes refuted those claims while adding a reporter who attended a related event wasn’t supposed to be there.
In a statement released on Thursday, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) and the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN) excoriated the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) for inviting a member of the press to what was intended to be a “private roundtable” at the Indian Gaming Association’s (IGA) annual tradeshow in San Diego.
This breach of trust highlights why such discussions must be led by tribal governments and organizations, rather than operator-funded groups,” said the tribal gaming groups in a statement.
The event in question was hosted by IGA Chairman Victor Rocha and attended by DraftKings co-founder and CEO Jason Robins, and FanDuel President Christian Genetski. Rocha is a member of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, which runs the Pechanga Casino Resort in Temecula, Calif.
Mea Culpa Mess Up
SBA’s alleged “infraction” occurred just over two years after several of its member companies, including DraftKings and FanDuel, supported an ill-fated 2022 ballot proposal to bring online sports betting to California without consulting tribes.
That ballot initiative and a competing proposal by tribal casino operators in the state were both soundly defeated by voters. It was widely believed that that rebuke sent a loud and clear message that the only pathway to online sports betting in the largest state is through tribal casino operators.
The industry was reminded of that fact after a group known as Eagle1 Acquisitions Corp., LLC pushed a pair of sports wagering bills in California in the hopes of wooing tribes. Those efforts ultimately died last year because tribes contended they weren’t apprised of the bills prior to filing, and because the tribes believed there was limited appetite among California to deal with the issue again so soon after 2022.
Citing voter fatigue on the subject, California tribes view sports betting as a possible issue for the 2026 ballot proposition cycle, but even if that happens, it doesn’t guarantee the tribes will immediately the online model that’s prevalent across the country.
Sports Betting Still a Long Way Off in California
At the IGA meeting, both Genetski and Robins mentioned the importance of California to their companies’ long-term growth plans while acknowledging working with the tribes is essential in terms of getting their feet in the door of the most coveted market in the US.
For their parts, CNIGA and TASIN described the meeting as “productive”, but made clear that claims of an agreement are “simply false.” The tribal gaming groups said more talks among California tribal nations are forthcoming.
“Let there be no false illusion: establishing an acceptable framework and governance model will take time,” said CNIGA and TASIN in the statement. “This is a complex matter that involves navigating federal, state, and tribal laws, which requires thorough debate and careful resolution.”
Last Comment ( 1 )
The damn savages are controlling the sports betting because of asshole Governor Arnold Swartznegger gave the tribes all the power after he bargained for a few tax dollars from them.All people should boycott the tribes casinos until they come to the table in good faith. Their greed will cause us to never get this solved. The millions off lost revenue will make them deal.