In the state of California, eighteen of the state’s tribes that operate casinos are planning on launching a massive campaign that could potentially see this western state becoming one of the latest to fully legalize sports betting activities within its borders. As suggested, this campaign will aim at seeking voters to decide on whether to legalize sports betting activities or not.

It should be noted that the state of California has already attempted to take steps towards legalizing online sports betting and online gambling several times before the campaign. At the moment, it is fully legal to wager on daily fantasy sports in California, but this is only due to the fact that daily fantasy sports are not classified as online wagering.

Golden State’s Sports Betting Industry

Despite some recent progress in this matter, the previous attempts to legalize online gambling in the state has far away from becoming the reality. Considering the state’s difficult politics, it is yet unclear when legalized online gaming will become a reality for the state’s residents. One move which made this possible came last May when the United States Supreme Court decided to overturn one of the federal bans on sports betting.

This landmark decision gave every state the opportunity to make its moves regarding this matter. Eastern states including Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey immediately jumped at this great opportunity while some other states followed, but not California. Today, the majority of the states are readily jumping on the bandwagon considering massive gaming revenues that are generated by such activities.

One of the major issues that the state of California is facing regarding this matter is the great resistance of the tribal casino venues. The truth is that there is a battle between the state’s Indian Gaming Association and independently working card rooms. This naturally poses a great issue for the state’s voters who eventually decide on the future of the state’s gambling market.

The Latest Initiative Led by Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians

The latest initiative which could see the state becoming one of the states with legalized sports betting activities came from one of the federally-recognized tribal organizations Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. The tribe alongside seventeen other federally-recognized tribes hopes to get a legalization question included in the following year’s ballot.

One of the efforts made includes the tribal attorney filling some paperwork with the state’s Attorney General Office which seeks official permission to start collecting signatures from the registered voters which are required in order to get the initiative added to the following ballot. Commenting on the news, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians’ Chairman Mark Macarro said that this ballot question would primarily focus on asking the state’s voters to approve a California constitutional amendment to allow licensed racetracks and tribal casinos to provide real-money wagering on an assortment of collegiate and professional sports.

In the case of this sports betting initiative being passed, tribal casinos and licensed racetracks will be able to take real-money wagers on various kinds of sports activities excluding high school sports activities. He also added that these venues will also pay the state 10% taxes on their generated gross gaming revenues. As reported, this initiative was supported by several other state’s tribes including the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Barona Band of Mission Indians among others.

The new Soboba Casino is opened, and instead of old tent structure, there is a 480,000-square-foot casino resort which includes a casino, casino bars, sports lounge, food venues, event venue, hotel, parking spaces and so much more. Soboba Casino, owned by the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, has been operating since 1995, and due to this new property in San Jacinto, California, the old venue was closed and its future will be decided by Soboba Economic Development Corporation.

Previous to the opening, Isaiah Vivanco, Vice Chairman for the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians elaborated that, in addition to one of a kind experience they’ll be offering to players or guests in general, their goal is to enhance the local economy. Furthermore, the construction of new facilities gives room for future expansion. He also said that apart from luxurious accommodations, they’ll leave signs and pictures from the old casino as a way to display their tribe’s history.

New Facilities’ Capacity

The Soboba Casino Resort is in San Jacinto, California, a mile away from the former location. As mentioned above, it’s a 480,000-square-foot casino resort with 140,000 square-foot casino, including 90,000 square-foot gaming floor, 2,000 slot machine and 32 table games. The facilities also comprise of casino bars, sports lounge, high roller room, noodle restaurant, food court, café open 24/7 and 15,000 square-foot event venue. Hotel, on the other hand, has 200 guest rooms, conference center, pool, and gym. The resort counts 2000 parking spaces.

Aside from casino and hotel services, Soboba Casino Resort offers fitness center or to people who prefer golf, Soboba Springs Golf Course.

Opposite to old venue, new resort brings various options when it comes to dining, café and refreshments. For example, 24-hour café has a golf course view, cozy chairs and brick wall interior décor. Adaptations concerning air changes were also incorporated on the new premises in order to make sure fresh air pumps in several times per hour.

For the players willing to wager bigger amounts, there is a high roller gaming room with slots, table games, blackjack and baccarat included.

The Competition

A decision to open Soboba Casino Resort may have been a way to improve their operations due to close by competitive casino resorts and their expansion plans. One of them, more precisely the Pechanga Resort Casino, has made $300 million expansion while San Manuel Casino plan involves the addition of parking garage, an entertainment venue with 3000 seats and a hotel with 450 rooms.

Future Plans

Soboba Tribal Council Vice Chairman Isaiah Vivanco said that the Council hopes that the casino will become an economic engine for the entire valley. Vivanco hopes that the valley will be able to capitalize on the huge potential of the resort and finally get a solid economic standing as there is little else going on in the valley at this time.

According to Vivanco, during construction, there were about 5000 on-site jobs with approximately 850 000 man hours. In the resort, 654 positions were added and he estimates, there will be more. As he also mentioned, there is enough space which can be adjusted, specially designed in anticipation of growth.