A high-stakes poker player and a crypto whiz believe they have what it takes to succeed where others have failed in California. Reeve Collins and Kasey Thompson are trying to get their sports betting initiative on the 2024 ballot, but they have taken the unusual tactic of forgoing any tribal consultation.
Although the initiatives would put control of sports betting firmly in their hands, California’s tribes are not happy with the lack of cooperation. Collins and Thompson organized a consultation with the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (IGA) on Wednesday this week to rectify this.
deader today than yesterday”
Despite that meeting, IGA Conference Chairman Victor Rocha took to X on Wednesday to lambast the pair. Deeming the sports betting attempt “moronic” and its backers as “a special kind of stupid,” Rocha said the initiatives were “deader today than yesterday:”
In a further post, Rocha refuted Collins and Thompson’s supposed claims that they had met with California tribes individually, deeming it “a bald-face lie.” He went on the confirm that the tribes were about to have an emergency meeting, adding: “Expect a complete repudiation of the grift.”
Last week, Chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (IGA) said “the California voter is just not ready for sports betting at this moment.” Two sports betting initiatives made the November ballot last year but did not receive the required support from voters.