State of California

Proposition 27 — Online Sports Betting Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute - Majority Approval Required

Proposition 27 is supported by California Tribes and homelessness and mental health experts.

For the first time, Prop. 27 PERMANENTLY funds housing, mental health and addiction treatment by regulating and taxing online sports betting.

Prop. 27 contains strict rules protecting minors, regular audits, and oversight by the Attorney General.

Arguments are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency.

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF PROPOSITION 27

Vote YES on Proposition 27

Permanent Solutions for Homelessness, Mental Health, Addiction & Tribal Funding

Non-profit leaders, mayors, and California Tribes support Proposition 27 because it will provide hundreds of millions of dollars in permanent solutions to homelessness, mental health, and addiction in California. All funding will be subject to strict audits and oversight to ensure it is spent effectively.

Proposition 27 will also benefit every California Tribe—especially rural and economically disadvantaged Tribes who don’t own big casinos.

By taxing and regulating safe and responsible online sports betting for adults 21 and over, California can help solve homelessness and provide thousands of Californians mental health care and addiction treatment.

Proposition 27 provides the most solutions for California:

• Prop. 27 protects minors and strictly prevents those under 21 from betting.
• Prop. 27 requires mandatory audits to ensure homelessness and mental health funding is spent effectively.
• Prop. 27 is the only sports betting measure that will fund permanent homelessness and mental health solutions.
• Prop. 27 is the only measure that guarantees funding for disadvantaged Tribes.

Proposition 27 will fund hundreds of millions of dollars each year in shelter, housing, addiction treatment and mental health support for Californians who need it most.

Ricardo Flores, non-profit leader and housing advocate, on why his organization supports Prop. 27:
“California’s homelessness crisis is a statewide emergency. Our state has never fully invested in permanent solutions to end homelessness. Prop. 27 allows organizations like mine to have an ongoing revenue source to fund desperately needed services: shelter, housing, and support. All with strict audits to ensure every dime is spent effectively. No other sports betting proposition will generate significant revenue for homelessness and mental health services.”

Tamera Kohler, CEO of San Diego’s Regional Task Force on Homelessness, on Prop. 27:
“One in six Californians experiences mental illness. It’s a crisis affecting nearly every family. Prop. 27 will help generate hundreds of millions of dollars every year to fund mental health treatment, and solutions to homelessness and addiction. By passing Prop. 27, we can give more people the care they need and the hope they deserve.”

Chairman Jose “Moke” Simon of Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California, on Prop. 27:
“My tribe has had so much taken away from us—our land, our ceremonies, our culture—and our sovereignty is constantly under attack. Unlike Tribes with large casinos, my Tribe struggles to provide basic needs for our people. Prop. 27 is the only proposition that helps disadvantaged Tribes like mine, and Prop. 27 is the only one that ensures every California Tribe benefits.
“Don’t believe the false attacks on Prop. 27. By taxing and regulating online sports betting for adults over 21, we can finally address homelessness in California while protecting tribal sovereignty.”

Vote YES on Prop. 27—tax and regulate safe and responsible online sports betting, support California Tribes and finally do something to solve homelessness, mental health, and addiction in California.

YEStoProp27.com

Tamera Kohler, CEO
San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness

Jose “Moke” Simon, Chairman
Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California

Ricardo Flores, Executive Director
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) San Diego

Prop. 27 is a deceptive scheme funded by out-of-state gambling corporations to legalize a massive expansion of online and mobile sports gambling.

Prop. 27 is NOT a “solution” to homelessness. 90% of profits would go to out-of-state corporations.

Prop. 27 is opposed by 50+ California Tribes. Vote NO on 27.

Arguments are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency.

ARGUMENT AGAINST PROPOSITION 27 

JOIN CALIFORNIA INDIAN TRIBES, PARENTS, TEACHERS, HOMELESS ADVOCATES, PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS: VOTE NO ON 27—THE CORPORATE ONLINE GAMBLING PROPOSITION

Prop. 27 is a deceptive scheme written and promoted by out-ofstate corporations to legalize online and mobile sports gambling in California. It won’t solve homelessness, but it will turn virtually every cellphone, tablet and laptop into a gambling device.

Proponents are deceptively marketing Prop. 27 as a “solution” to homelessness. But just like when we were told the state lottery would be a solution for public education, we can’t believe these false promises. Here’s why our broad coalition urges NO on Prop. 27.

UNDER PROP. 27, OUT-OF-STATE CORPORATIONS WIN—BUT CALIFORNIANS LOSE

The out-of-state online gambling corporations wrote Prop. 27 to benefit themselves. Prop. 27 would give these corporations near total control over online sports wagering. Ninety percent (90%) of the profits would end up in the pockets of out-of-state corporations without creating real jobs or investments in our state. Not a single dime would fund state priorities like public schools, firefighting or even problem gambling prevention programs.

PROP. 27 IS NOT A “SOLUTION” TO HOMELESSNESS

California has spent over $30 Billion to address homelessness in the last 5 years, but things have only gotten worse. A recent report by the independent State Auditor said California’s spending on homelessness is “disjointed” and “has not fulfilled its most critical responsibilities.” Rather than legalize this massive expansion of online gambling, we should more effectively manage the billions the state is already spending as well as any new funding needed in the future.

PROP. 27 IS FULL OF LOOPHOLES THAT SHORTCHANGE CALIFORNIA

Prop. 27 caps revenues going to homelessness programs at just pennies on the dollar of what the online gambling corporations will make. Buried in Prop. 27 is a “promotional bets” loophole. States that allow this same loophole have seen revenues fall far below what was promised. The big gaming corporations also say they will pay a licensing fee. In reality, the corporations can reduce their tax one dollar for every dollar they pay in licensing fees. More money for them; less money for the homeless.

PROP. 27 EXPOSES KIDS TO ONLINE AND PROBLEM GAMBLING.

Prop. 27 would legalize the largest expansion of gambling in California history—but it has NO IN-PERSON AGE VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT to prevent minors from gambling. Studies show that online and mobile gambling are especially attractive to youth and those prone to compulsive gambling.

CALIFORNIA INDIAN TRIBES STRONGLY OPPOSE PROP. 27

“Prop. 27 is a direct attack on tribal gaming rights and selfreliance. In fact, it even prohibits online sports wagering on tribal lands. Prop. 27 jeopardizes vital funding tribes use to provide housing, healthcare, firefighting services, education and other services for our communities.”—Lynn Valbuena, Chairperson, Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations

PLEASE JOIN INDIAN TRIBES, PARENTS, TEACHERS, PUBLIC SAFETY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HOMELESSNESS ADVOCATES: NO ON 27!

• Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations • More than 50 California Indian tribes • NAACP California • California League of United Latin American Citizens • California District Attorneys Association • CalAsian Chamber of Commerce • Goodwill Southern California • Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of CA

NO ON PROP. 27

Lynn Valbuena, Chairperson
Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations

Sara Dutschke Setshwaelo, Chairperson
Ione Band of Miwok Indians

Steven Pinckney, Business Administrator
Salvation Army of San Bernardino 

Arguments are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency.

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF PROPOSITION 27

PROP. 27 WAS WRITTEN AND PAID FOR BY OUT-OF-STATE ONLINE GAMBLING CORPORATIONS

Prop. 27 is a deceptive scheme promoted by out-of-state corporations to legalize a massive expansion of online and mobile sports gambling in California. These corporations have contributed more than $100,000,000 to sell Prop. 27. They aren’t spending that money to help California. They are doing it to enrich themselves.

CALIFORNIA INDIAN TRIBES OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSE PROP. 27

More than 50 California Tribes strongly oppose Prop. 27. It is a direct attack on tribal gaming and Indian self-reliance that would jeopardize funding tribal governments use for education, healthcare, fire protection and other vital services.

PROP. 27 IS NOT A “SOLUTION” TO HOMELESSNESS

Decades ago, gaming companies passed the California Lottery with misleading promises of massive new revenues for schools. Now, out-of-state gambling corporations are using similar bait-and-switch tactics to promote Prop. 27.

Prop. 27 includes hidden loopholes that would give massive profits to its corporate sponsors, while leaving only a few pennies per dollar for California. Under Prop. 27, 90% of the profits will go to out-of-state corporations and little if anything would go to public schools.

PROP. 27 PROMOTERS HAVE A HISTORY OF BROKEN PROMISES AND BAD ACTS

The corporate sponsors funding Prop. 27 have been fined millions of dollars for allowing underage gambling and marketing to children. In other states that have passed laws like Prop. 27, the big-money promises have failed to materialize. We can’t trust the false promises of these out-of-state corporations.

REJECT THE OUT-OF-STATE CORPORATIONS’ DECEPTIVE CAMPAIGN. VOTE NO ON 27.

James Siva, Chairman
California Nations Indian Gaming Association

Robert McElroy, Executive Director
Alpha Project for the Homeless

Claudia Brundin, Tribal Chairwoman
Blue Lake Rancheria of California 

Arguments are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency.

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST PROPOSITION 27 

Vote YES for PERMANENT SOLUTIONS for Homelessness, Mental Health, and Addiction.

Opponents of Prop. 27 are wrong. Here are the facts:

STATE WATCHDOG: ONLY PROP. 27 PROVIDES PERMANENT SOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESSNESS

For the first time in state history, local communities will receive yearly funding to create permanent solutions for homelessness. The state’s independent budget watchdog found only Prop. 27 will generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year to address homelessness, mental health, and addiction. Prop. 27’s funding must be spent on creating housing and providing services like mental health and addiction treatment.

PROP. 27 CONTAINS STRICT REQUIREMENTS TO PROTECT MINORS

Prop. 27 is the only proposition requiring background checks and state of the art technology to protect minors and ensure they can’t place bets. 23 states have safely legalized online sports betting, proving you can do so responsibly while generating significant state funding.

PROP. 27 IS THE ONLY INITIATIVE THAT HELPS DISADVANTAGED TRIBES

Tribes support Prop. 27 because every Tribe will benefit. Prop. 27 is the only proposition that dedicates funding to economically disadvantaged Tribes—more than doubling the amount of funding these smaller Tribes receive each year.

PROP. 27 REQUIRES YEARLY AUDITS & STRICT SAFETY OVERSIGHT

Proposition 27 requires yearly audits and strict oversight to ensure funding is spent effectively. Under Prop. 27, the Attorney General will tightly regulate sports betting to ensure safe and responsible gaming.

Join California Tribes, leaders in homelessness and mental health care, social workers, faith leaders, and civil rights groups—VOTE YES on Prop. 27.

YesToProp27.com

Gloria Baxter, Mental health non-profit leader

Phillip Gomez, Chairman
Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria, California

Leo Sisco, Chairman
Santa Rosa Ranchera Tachi Yokut Tribe