An eleventh-hour sports betting proposal was drafted by two outsiders hoping to get the support of the California tribes but it was roundly defeated last week by members of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association.
No Respect
Poker pro Kasey Thompson and blockchain executive Reeve Collins teamed up to craft an initiative for sports betting in California that would involve the tribes taking over some of the offshore sports betting sites that are responsible for taking away market share of the regulated and licensed sportsbooks in the United States.
The issue is that there is no market to profit from as California has not approved sports betting in the state and all but a few of the tribal leaders were completely blindsided by these outsiders trying to muscle in on an industry that the major tribes had spent a considerable amount of money to defeat at the ballot box.
Lastly, the manner in which the idea was presented did not sit well with the tribal leaders, and the idea was unanimously voted down, 18-0.
“The entire effort surrounding these initiatives was handled abhorrently by the initiative sponsors,” CNIGA Chairman James Siva said in a statement. “It is hard not to be offended when listening to these individuals speak. This is another example of outside influences trying to divide and conquer Indian tribes. We will not let history repeat itself.”
Siva’s Critique
The pitch by Kasey Thompson, CEO of Eagle 1 Acquisition Co., had all the warmth of a snake oil salesman according to the description painted by Siva.
“His pitch was kind of an over-energetic mixture of rambling and overhyping himself, talking about all the things they’ve done in the past, all the funds they have available, but never laying out the exact details of these are our backers, these are the people we’ve put together. He was just saying we have all this while spouting out I don’t know how many words a minute,” Siva added.
Thompson Not Declaring Defeat
Initially, there was a report that the Palas, a California tribe with a reputation for going rogue and not always in step with the vast majority, had signed onto this petition sponsored by Thompson and Reeve Collins, who founded Pala Interactive in concert with the tribe but has since divested himself of it.
While it is true the Palas allowed the duo to voice their proposal and had given them feedback, the council ultimately voted against filing the initiative with the state.
And just how this was all going to work still confounded the tribes as described by CNIGA Chairman Siva, “They seem to have a backroom deal signed with these illegal operators in which we’ll come in and buy you guys out. They’ll give us tribes the California operations, and then they’ll take them to use in the rest of the country. So, they are going to acquire all of these illegal companies, have tribes wash them and validate them in California, then they’ll take them and profit in the rest of the country.”
Thompson’s Persistence
Although Thompson may be bloodied, he is yet unbowed, explaining the plan could still have legs in 2024.
“It’s very misleading to say that 52 tribes are against Eagle 1 because that’s not the truth,” Thompson said. “We’ll continue to work with tribes on amendments. And, like I said from the beginning, we will only put this on the ballot with majority tribal support.”
Thompson has reached out to the tribes and offered to amend his initiative in any way they choose but the deadline is December 1st and the enthusiasm to do so appears to be nil.
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