Tribes and Operators Find Common Ground at IGA Convention
The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) Tradeshow & Convention in San Diego on April 1, 2025, sparked a shift in California’s sports betting talks. DraftKings’ Jason Robins and FanDuel’s Christian Genetski owned up to their 2022 ballot flops: Prop 27’s 82% rejection, per state tallies, and dialed back the push.
Operators Ease Off, Tribes Take Lead
After tribes shelled out $150 million to defend their turf, per IGA estimates, operators now say they’re ready to follow, not fight, tribal leadership.
Robins stated that in California, there’s no sports betting unless it’s tribally led. Genetski doubled down, noting after the “blistering battle” of 2022, “it’s safe to say” they won’t try another voter push solo.
Both stressed respecting tribal sovereignty, a lesson from their $458 million misfire. Tribes, running 76 casinos and $9 billion yearly, flexed their clout. Operators blinked, pitching teamwork over takeovers.
Partnership Talks Heat Up
The vibe’s about collaboration. Panels tossed around models like Michigan’s Bay Mills-DraftKings tie-up or Connecticut’s tribal-operator wins, per IGA recaps. Genetski said that there is a big pie to share, eyeing revenue splits and guaranteed payouts for all 100+ California tribes, casino or not, per federal counts.
Operators offered tech and scale, but tribes want control, think one tribal entity partnering with the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), a closed-door pitch from March 31.
Tribes aren’t budging on exclusivity. Online casinos and prediction markets, like Robinhood’s March woes, rattled them, but DraftKings swore off the latter in California.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) loomed large. Can it cover these deals, or is a new path needed? No rush, though; 2028’s the target, per tribal chair Victor Rocha’s November 2024 webcast, giving time to iron out trust and terms.
What’s Next for California Betting
This thaw’s a big deal. Operators learned hard. Robins admitted they misread tribal dynamics, thinking cash would smooth it over.
Now, they’re at powwows and tribal meets, per SBA logs, building ties post-2022’s “spectacular failure,” as ex-FanDuel CEO Amy Howe called it. Tribes hold the reins, and operators are OK playing second
For California, it’s a slow burn. A 2027 or 2028 ballot is in sight, likely tribal-led with operators as wingmen. The SBA’s one-entity plan could level the field, but 109 tribes, per BIA, mean tricky talks.
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