Poll: Legalize sports betting in California
By Jim Sanders, Sacramento Bee
Why go to Nevada to bet on the Super Bowl or March Madness?
Californians overwhelmingly want the right to gamble on sports events in their state, too, judging from Field Poll results released this month.
Fans love watching professional or collegiate teams, and it’s common now to bet with friends or through an office pool on big games, said Mark DiCamillo, poll director.
“If they’re going to do that anyway, you might as well legalize it and have the state reap some tax revenue from it,” DiCamillo said. “I think that’s the reason for the support.”
Legalizing sports betting has become a national issue after New Jersey lawmakers voted this year to defy a federal law limiting sports betting to Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana.
In California, Senate Bill 1390 has been proposed by Inglewood Democratic state Sen. Rod Wright to legalize sports betting if Congress alters the federal ban or it is thrown out in court.