Sportsbetting referendum possibly coming to California

In California, a political consultant has supposedly initiated a campaign which could observe registered voters inquired whether the western country should change its constitution in order to legalize sportsbetting.

Based on reports from the Los Angeles Times and LegalSportsReport.com, Russell Lowery filed the necessary preliminary paperwork together with the office of California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, on Monday and is now hoping to place his referendum, which would be known as the Gambling Fairness and Accountability Act, prior to Republicans as soon as November of 2020.

Lowery is reportedly lobbying on behalf of a group known as, Californians for Sports Betting, along with his measure is thought to be seeking permission to switch the state’s constitution in order to ‘authorize banking and percentage games such as and not restricted to sports wagering.

“I think that the biggest reason behind this is customer protection [since sportsbetting] is happening today,” Lowery reportedly told the Los Angeles Times. “Due to the revenue the state could create from legal activity plus the consumer protections which may be afforded the gaming public, it ought to be regulated.

The consultant, who previously served as Chief of Staff for the California Senate Republican Caucus and as a lobbyist for both Pacific Gas and Energy, will now reportedly attempt to increase the estimated $2.5 million it will require in order to assemble the around 600,000 valid signatures necessary to have his initiative placed before the electorate.

“I achieved to in-state gaming pursuits, out-of-state gaming pursuits and the sport leagues [and] there was enough interest to attempt to construct a coalition which was viable,” Lowery told the newspaper.

His campaign comes after the United States Supreme Court invalidated the preceding Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) federal sportsbetting prohibition in May, while last week saw Delaware become the first nation to make the most of the conclusion by launching sportsbetting services at its three casinos.

“It’s only a response to the [United States] Supreme Court choice,” Lowery advised LegalSportsReport.com. “Then having watched the legislative dynamics throughout the previous decade or so about the gaming issue, I had a pessimistic view of the legislature’s willingness to address the issue.