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Unfortunately for all of the California sports betting proponents, there has been nothing but bad news surrounding the state trying to legalize things. Last year, there was a ton of hope that California would be able to get the ball rolling and get the laws changed, but nothing was able to get done. Now, a lot of people remain quite worried about the future, as no California sports betting bills are expected on the November ballot.
According to a report, there are currently no betting bills being developed for the legislators and members of the House Senate to take a look at. Keep in mind that for things to be able to go to a vote in November, several different steps that need to be taken. As things stand, no bills are in the works and unless something drastic happens, that’s not going to change in the coming months.
At this point last year, there were multiple options on the table for the local government. In the end, two sports betting bills were present on the ballot for people in California to vote on. The assumption was that at least one of them would be voted in, which would have made history for people in the state. Instead, the voters were not happy with either and didn’t approve either of them. This was a stunning result.
From that moment, it was made more than clear that no one was going to settle for a bill that was going to divide people. It was back to the drawing board for lawmakers too, but the fact that no new bill has been presented for officials to look at is quite concerning. At this point, it feels like people are giving up hope for sports betting to arrive either later this year or in 2024. The future of betting in California is totally up in the air.
Will 2025 be the year when California sports betting arrives?
A big question people have on their minds is will 2025 be the year when California sports betting arrives? Right now, 2024 truly feels like a long shot, as no good news has arrived on this project. From our chair, it really feels like 2025 could be the most likely outcome for the state. This is a bit of a disappointment, as maybe 18 months ago, no one would have guessed that 2025 would be the launch date.
No one can argue that the potential for California sports betting is through the roof. In terms of professional teams, arguably no other state features more talent than California. The college sports scene is incredible as well, which is why people are so disappointed that they haven’t been able to make legal wagers. Even more concerning in this case is that illegal activity continues to be quite high.
5 years into the post-PASPA era.
34 states have legalized sports betting.
Remarkable progress.
But the 3 most populous states — California, Texas and Florida (comprising 25% of the population) — remain at least several years away. https://t.co/OyniWQG0Sx
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) May 15, 2023
A recent report showcased that gambling arrests in the United States are highest in California. Not only that, but sports betting rings continue to be found and shut down. However, as we’ve mentioned before, authorities aren’t able to track down every single one. Just recently, people all over California were checking the NFL betting odds for the 2023 NFL Draft and putting money down.
Any bet that was made on the NFL Draft was done so in an illegal fashion. Millions of dollars are being transferred under the table and in an unregulated fashion. Imagine if all that money was regulated and the local resources could see benefits from everything. California sports betting has the potential to bring in billions of dollars each year for the state. However, the longer California waits to give things the green light, the more money that’s being left on the table.
MLB betting is high in California right now as well
When it comes to illegal activity, MLB betting is high in California right now as well. This isn’t a big surprise, as sports fans are paying close attention to what the Los Angeles Dodgers are doing. While the Rays got off to a strong start, as did the Braves, the Dodgers have seen a recent spike in their World Series betting odds thanks to their fantastic play. With so many star players on the roster, LA is a true threat to win the Fall Classic.
This is something bettors know all about too, which is why people in California are checking the MLB betting odds on them. However, we must remember that any bets on the Dodgers placed in California are illegal. This has been a growing problem for months and if things are delayed until 2025, then non-regulated bets will only keep pouring in.
Once the NFL season arrives too, we don’t have to tell you that plenty of illegal bets on the Rams, Chargers and 49ers will be recorded as well. At the end of the day, California is going to have a major illegal betting problem until things are flipped. No one knows when that will happen, which is only making California citizens more frustrated with how things have played out.
Victory formation!
Dodgers x @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/lkArcbXBkF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 24, 2023
