South Dakota initiates public vote on the legitimacy of sports gambling in a referendum.
By: Michael Savio, 02/08/2025 11:25 Photo by Robbschultz69, CC BY-SA 4.0
Here's the lowdown on the latest developments in the sports betting scene. Michael Savio, our resident industry insider and casino expert, delves into the ongoing attempts to legalize sports betting in California for the 2026 ballot.
The Long Journey Ahead
Sports betting operators and tribal leaders are teaming up for a possible 2026 ballot initiative to legalize online sports betting. But it's not all smooth sailing—previous attempts in 2022 and 2023 ended in resounding rejections by the voters. It's time to dust off the proposals and give it another shot.
As things stand, discussions are being held to form a unified tribal entity partnering with operators to create the online sports betting platforms. However, no formal measure has been submitted yet.
The Disappointing Setbacks
Looking across the map, we see Nebraska struggling with the same issue. A bill aimed at putting online sports betting on the November 2026 ballot was torpedoed in April 2025 after opponents trotted out a filibuster, requiring 33 votes to progress. The bill aimed to generate an estimated $32 million in annual tax revenue meant for property tax relief, but alas, it didn't make the cut. Advocates might now consider a citizen-led initiative, but as of now, nothing has been announced.
The Exceptions
In South Dakota, Deadwood maintains a retail sports betting framework, separate from the ongoing online betting efforts in other states.
The Winds of Change
The failed California initiatives in 2022 and the defeated Nebraska bill in 2025 are representative of the state-by-state legalization efforts post-2018, with disagreements between tribes and commercial operators often causing setbacks. Nebraska's proposal sought to recoup revenue lost to neighboring states like Iowa and Colorado, where Proposition JJ (among others) is currently on the 2024–2025 ballot.
The Road Ahead
California's ongoing negotiation between tribes and commercial entities, and potential citizen initiatives in Nebraska, are crucial pieces to watch in the 2026 ballot cycle. Deadwood's retail betting landscape remains unchanged for now.
You can get more insights on this and other industry happenings from Michael Savio's articles on casinos.com. Keep an eye out for his latest pieces to stay up-to-date!
[References will be added here if space allows.]
- Michael Savio, a casino expert, discusses the latest efforts to legalize sports betting in California for the 2026 ballot, following two previous rejections in 2022 and 2023.
- Current discussions involve forming a union between sports betting operators and tribal leaders to propose an online sports betting initiative in 2026.
- A similar bill in Nebraska, aiming to legalize online sports betting and generate $32 million in annual tax revenue, was thwarted in April 2025 due to a filibuster.
- While Nebraska considers a citizen-led initiative, Deadwood in South Dakota maintains a retail sports betting framework separate from the online betting efforts in other states.
- The ongoing disagreements between tribes and commercial operators, as seen in California and Nebraska, reflect the state-by-state legalization efforts post-2018.
- To stay informed about the latest developments in the sports betting industry, including the California and Nebraska ballot initiatives, follow Michael Savio's articles on casinos.com.
