CalMatters
By James Ramos, CalMatters
Re: “Ironically, Californians and Missourians can’t legally bet on their Super Bowl teams“
A recent column about California’s stance on sports gambling overlooks a crucial piece of our state’s history and promise to its people. As both a tribal member and an elected member of the California Assembly, I feel compelled to highlight the commitment California tribes made nearly a quarter-century ago – a commitment that has shaped the landscape of gaming in our state.
In 1999, California tribes united under a groundbreaking initiative. For the first time, we leveraged federal policies to foster self-reliance, seizing an opportunity that would change the future of tribal communities and our state. The promises made to the people of California were clear: Gaming would be restricted to federally recognized reservations, and it would be conducted responsibly to benefit not only the tribes but also the surrounding communities.
This promise was not made lightly. Our commitment ensures that gaming in California remains a force for good, benefiting Californians rather than outside corporations and other states.
California tribes have been diligent stewards of gaming, honoring our word to the people of California. The decisive approval of propositions that amended our state constitution to support tribal gaming is a testament to the trust and support we have garnered from Californians. This trust is something we do not take for granted.
The introduction of sports betting presents an opportunity to generate much-needed revenues to tackle challenges that disproportionately affect Native Americans and all Californians alike – issues such as domestic violence, mental health, housing and the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
These are not abstract problems but daily realities that demand attention and resources.
Sports betting in California must be approached with the same principles of responsibility, community benefit and respect for the promises made decades ago. It’s not about legalizing sports betting; it’s about ensuring that any expansion of gaming aligns with the values and commitments that have guided tribal gaming since its inception.
The tribes have stood firm in their promise to protect gaming and keep the revenues within California. As we consider the future of sports betting, let’s not forget the lessons of the past and the importance of upholding the commitments that have made tribal gaming a model of responsible and community-oriented enterprise. Let us move forward with care, ensuring that sports betting, if it comes to pass, is implemented in a way that honors our shared values and the well-being of all Californians.
This article was originally published by CalMatters.
This argument makes no sense. What does he mean: “challenges that disproportionately affect Native Americans and all Californians alike.” Isn’t that an oxymoron? The defense of gambling with the argument that native people’s were badly treated by colonizer is also such an argument. Gambling is a bad social activity which preys on the least well off and benefits the “house” with rules that overwhelmingly favor those that have the money to create these places. Gambling encourages the idea that one can solve problems with luck rather than industry and effort. Gambling by definition means taking money from another who is a worse gambler than you. Gambling should be outside respectable society at the least. The state should not profit from it for to do so is to be an enabler of the harm it creates. All this said, if there is to be taxes or fees for such activity it should not be restricted to a privileged class of society alone but equitably allowed other groups.
One small consolation to a few centuries of appropriation and mistreatment has been to allow tribes dominion over many/most gambling establishments and activities. Here in our county and actually in many places it’s been a resounding success. Look at Solvang, the sheer number of people working, tribal and not, in their enterprises, the voluntary contributions to the county tax base, the continued desire to discuss partner and help Santa Barbara county to be the best place possible for everyone here. The Santa Ynez band of Chumash is the most stable governmental and corporate entity in the county. The argument that it is a ‘bad social activity’ possibly true when viewed through the most parochial lens, is a slippery slope that belies a free society and human autonomy within reasonable limits. Taking that position you could move on to prohibiting many foods, literature, other arts, alcohol, marijuana, non procreative sex, etc. Things that free humans can handle on their own pretty well actually. I did not see the Taliban Party of California on the ballot this year. Keep thinking like this and maybe there will be an effective counterpoint to the California Communism that currently dominates state politics.