The legalization of sports betting in California would be in the hands of undecided voters if a vote happened today.
That is according to a new poll from the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley. The top-line results show CA sports betting is favored 45% to 33% by voters with a position. Another 22% of voters are still undecided, though.
That means the push to place sports betting initiatives on the 2022 California ballot should be a key educational period for voters that will determine the outcome.
More from California sports betting poll
The poll asked two questions:
- How would you vote for an amendment that legalized betting?
- What is your interest in professional sports?
The responses from the 4,477 registered voters broke down as follows:
- The majority of men, 55%, would vote yes for sports betting with 29% voting no and 16% undecided. Women, on the other hand, were not as supportive with 37% saying they would not vote for sports betting. Another 28% were undecided while 35% would vote yes.
- The 30-39 age range, a crucial demographic for sports betting companies, most strongly supports sports betting with 56% saying they would vote yes. The 40-49 age demo also had majority support with 52% saying yes.
- Naturally, those with the highest interest in professional sports want to see betting legalized the most. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of those who have a lot of interest in pro sports would vote to legalize betting. That is followed by 48% of those with some interest, 42% of those with only a little interest and 33% of those with no interest saying they would vote yes.
Only one initiative approved right now
Right now, California voters only have one option for sports betting on the 2022 ballot.
That is a retail-only proposition brought by a coalition of 18 tribes. Their petition would legalize dice and ball games at tribal casinos with casinos and horse tracks also allowed to operate retail sports betting.
A lawsuit challenging the proposal for trying to legalize multiple types of gaming was dismissed Wednesday.
Other California sports betting proposals in the works
The backers of two other proposals are still looking for enough signatures before June 30 to make the ballot.
Seven US sports betting operators put together an initiative for online sports betting in California:
- Bally’s
- BetMGM
- DraftKings
- Fanatics Betting & Gaming
- FanDuel
- Penn National/Barstool Sportsbook
- Wynn
The sportsbook-backed proposal received support from four CA mayors but is now being fought by three tribes.
California cardrooms also want in on retail and mobile sports betting, and launched their own proposal. The initiative would allow tribal casinos, horse tracks and professional sports teams to be licensed as well.
