California’s Native American interests are reportedly looking into the impact of daily fantasy sports, according to a report on Legalsportsreport.com.
Tribes need to reach consensus on internet gambling in the face of changing market demographics and pending legislation on sports wagering, daily fantasy sports and iPoker, the chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association said.
“The internet looms large in the future of gaming, therefore our future,” CNIGA Chairman Steve Stallings told delegates to the association’s annual meeting. “Whether it’s iPoker, daily fantasy sports or sports wagering, we are going to have to face this digital monster. My hope is that we can find a way to be unified on this new political battlefield.”
The report said a meeting has been scheduled between leaders of several of the state’s 60 casino tribes and state Assemblyman Adam Gray, sponsor of three pieces of legislation to regulate and tax sports wagering, DFS and iPoker.
California’s bill to regulate daily fantasy sports sites has been passed by the state Assembly and awaits a vote in the state Senate.
According to other reports, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and Morongo Band of Mission Indians both sent letters to Gray saying they feel the bill is advancing too quickly and deserves the same amount of debate the state has had on online poker. The tribes are part of a consortium of tribes and poker rooms that have sought to have iPoker legalized in the state. But opposition from other tribes, most notably Agua Caliente and Pechanga, has put the measure in limbo. The DFS issue may force them to unite, however.
