The campaign behind Prop 27, the push for legal online CA sports betting, is changing its tactics with just six weeks to go.
Yes on 27 pulled all of its TV ad buys in major California markets this week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday.
Instead, the campaign is only advertising on broadcast spots in the Los Angeles market with smaller cable buys in other key areas through October.
Prop 27 campaign going direct to voters
It is not usually a good sign when campaigns start drawing down their ad spend. A spokesperson from the campaign pushing for online California sportsbooks, however, told the Chronicle that is not the case.
The standard TV ads from both sides are “not benefiting anyone,” Nathan Click of Yes on 27 said. Instead, funding will be used for direct mail and digital advertising.
The Yes on 27 campaign did not respond to LSR‘s requests for examples of this advertising. The effort is financially supported by seven online sportsbooks including BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel,
No on 27 keeping the heat on
The voice against online sports betting in California could sound that much louder without competing ads, and there is no plan to stop.
“Voters are flat out rejecting the out-of-state gambling corporations and their $170 million campaign of deception,” No on 27 spokesperson Kathy Fairbanks said in a statement. “The more voters hear, the more they reject it. Even so, Prop 27 is still on the ballot and still poses a significant threat to tribal self-reliance and all Californians.
“We’ll remain vigilant and keep educating voters until Election Day to ensure this dangerous measure is defeated.”
Funding still rolling in against online CA betting
Contributions to the California sports betting battle are already at a historic level for any statewide campaign in the country, nearing a half-billion dollars.
Another $254,043 flowed into the Yes on 26, No on 27 coffers since Sept. 12.
The biggest contributions came from the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation with $132,944 given Sept. 16 and $109,195 from the Barona Band of Mission Indians on Sept. 15.
