A CT Council on Problem Gambling at the Sportsbook at the Mohegan Sun Casino. A new study found a big jump in the number of people searching for gambling addiction help since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 overturned a ban on sports betting. 3 Gambling
Sacramento, California – Three years after a bruising $200 million political battle over Prop 27, sports betting giants DraftKings and FanDuel are attempting a reset with California’s powerful tribal gaming interests — but tribal leaders say any future partnership remains far from certain.
During the annual Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention in San Diego last week, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and FanDuel President Christian Genetski appeared alongside tribal leaders in a panel titled “The Power of Partnerships.” Both executives acknowledged the deep wounds left by the 2022 campaign, in which their corporate-backed initiative to legalize online sports betting — Prop 27 — was overwhelmingly rejected by more than 80% of California voters. A rival tribal-backed measure, Prop 26, which would have allowed in-person betting on tribal lands, also failed.
“I’m not going to sit here and say we don’t make mistakes — we’ve made many mistakes,” Robins said. “Having tribal relationships and partnerships is absolutely essential — there’s no other way to do it here.”
The Sports Betting Alliance, whose members include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Fanatics, has since created a tribal advisory board and initiated private talks with tribal governments about a potential path forward. One proposal under discussion would consolidate all 109 federally recognized tribes into a single entity that could partner with operators to offer online betting, with the operators footing the bill for a potential 2026 statewide ballot initiative.
But tribal leaders have cautioned against reading too much into the recent public displays of unity.
The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) released a statement following last week’s meetings, calling them “productive in some ways,” but warning that suggestions of an agreement were “simply false.” Further internal discussions among tribal governments are expected to take place in the coming months.
“Let there be no false illusion: establishing an acceptable framework and governance model will take time,” CNIGA stated.
Sports betting law expert John Holden, of Indiana University, emphasized the complexity ahead: “You’re dealing with 109 governments … and government doesn’t move quickly.”
Despite the long road ahead, the stakes remain high. “There’s no other state out there that has the ability to impact our long-term growth than California,” said Robins.
For now, industry giants may be at the table — but tribes remain firmly in the driver’s seat.
