California sportsbook opposition grows as Republicans and teachers federation join the fray

The coalition opposing a ballot initiative to expand sports betting in California swelled this week after Republican politicians and the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) added their support.

The CFT, which represents 120,000 education workers, joined with fellow teaching union the Association of California School Administrators (ASCA), which represents 17,000 education personnel, in opposing Proposition 27.

In his rationale for the CFT’s opposition, CFT president Jeff Freitas claimed sports betting could be “highly addictive” for children and vulnerable groups, as well as suggesting that Prop 27 would jeopardise education funding.

“Prop 27 will also put California’s students at risk by failing to invest revenue in our state’s education system,” Freitas said.

“This measure is a bad deal for California and for our public schools,” the educator added.

Echoing the CFT’s comments, the ASCA highlighted the need to protect children from gambling especially via mobile, citing the “unprecedented access” afforded by the device.

The teaching unions join municipal employees, local councils and legislators from California’s ruling democratic party in opposing Proposition 27, which is backed by a collation of operators including DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM.

The democratic party in the state previously said they would remain neutral in respect of the other ballot measure concerning sports betting, Proposition 26, which is the brainchild of California’s tribes.

Proposition 26, or the Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative, allows for sports betting on tribal lands, subject to compacts ratified with the state.

It permits on-site sports betting at privately operated horseracing tracks over four counties for individuals aged 21 and over and imposes a 10% tax on profits made.

However, recent statements issued via the NO on 27 campaign seem to suggest that certain democratic politicians have moved from a neutral stance to outright opposition.

Speaking about the ballot initiative, Democratic Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins said: “California’s tribes have proven to be safe and responsible operators of gaming in California, providing benefits to their communities and to their members.

“I stand with tribal governments in opposition to Prop 27 and support their right to operate gaming facilities on their lands,” she added.

Atkins’ colleague and Democratic Assembly Speaker, Anthony Rendon, also expressed his support for Proposition 26 over the operator-backed Proposition 27.

“I am concerned that Prop 27 sends sports betting revenues to out-of-state corporations who wrote the measure to maximize their profits. Californians should vote NO on 27 and support California tribes over out-of-state corporations,” Rendon added.

California’s Republican Party has not openly opposed or voiced its support for either proposition until now, with republican representatives from both chambers of the California legislature affirming their support for proposition 26 on tribal rights grounds.

“Prop 27 eliminates the sovereign right of California tribes to operate gaming in California,” Senate Republican leader Scott Wilk said.

“They have proven to be excellent stewards of this responsibility. We should protect this tribal right, which has also benefitted all Californians. Vote NO on 27,” Wilk added.

Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher noted the need to protect tribal sovereignty in the state, something which the proposed changes would endanger.

“Prop 27 threatens the current system, approved by voters, that allows tribes to use their lands to be self-reliant while also providing tremendous benefit to the communities they serve. Vote NO on prop 27,” Gallagher added.