Five of the seven sportsbooks behind the mobile California sports betting proposal added another $50 million to the campaign’s coffers in July.
Unfortunately for those sportsbooks, though, opponents of the proposal have cash to spend too. Since June 1, 12 tribal organizations added $88.8 million to oppose mobile California sportsbooks.
That more than doubled the cash given thus far to oppose Prop 27, bringing the total to $157.8 million, according to the California Secretary of State‘s database. Support for Prop 27 is just shy of that total at $150 million.
Who chipped in more for mobile California sports betting?
The additional $50 million came from four well-known operators and a fifth that has yet to launch:
- Fanatics: $12.5 million
- Penn Entertainment: $12.5 million
- BetMGM: $8.3 million
- DraftKings: $8.3 million
- FanDuel: $8.3 million
Those donations bring each of those company’s total contributions to $25 million. Bally Bet and WynnBET, the other two supporters of Prop 27, both contributed $12.5 million last year.
The group also recruited three tribal partners last month to support the proposal.
Who gave cash to oppose mobile betting?
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has donated the most since June 1 to oppose mobile sports betting. Its four donations total $28 million.
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria are next with $25 million over two donations. Unlike the San Manuel contributions, the Graton Rancheria’s donations are marked as also supporting Prop 26, the tribal retail sports betting proposal also on November’s ballot.
The other 10 organizations donated $35.8 million since June:
- Pechanga Band of Indians: $10 million*
- Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation: $10 million
- Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians: $5 million*
- Barona Band of Mission Indians: $5 million*
- Pala Casino Resort Spa: $3 million
- Chumash Casino and Resorts Enterprises: $2.5 million*
- Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians: $200,000*
- Wilton Rancheria: $50,000
- Elk Valley Rancheria: $6,000
- Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians: $5,000
*Funds were given both in opposition of Prop 27 and in support of Prop 26
Cardrooms fighting tribal sports betting measure
The mobile sports betting operators behind Prop 27 have an unofficial ally in California’s cardrooms. Multiple cardrooms are fighting Prop 26 and not just because of the sports betting angle.
Along with adding ball and dice games to tribal casinos, tribal entities could sue cardrooms for what the tribes believe are illegal card games.
A total of $42.2 million has been given to No on 26, with nearly $10 million donated since June 1:
- Hawaiian Gardens: $5 million
- Knighted Ventures LLC: $2 million
- Progressive Gaming LLC: $1 million
- Bumb & Associates: $1 million
- Capitol Casino: $250,000
- Elevation Entertainment: $250,000
- California Grand Casino: $200,000
- Napa Valley Casino: $150,000
- LE Gaming: $50,000
