California has the potential to be the most significant standalone gambling industry in America. Not only is it the most populated state, but it also has the highest wages per capita and some of the biggest industries in the world. If California were a country in its own right, it would be the 5th largest economy in the world, so it’s no surprise that gambling companies are chomping at the bit to set up in The Golden State.
Given that gambling has never been legalized or regulated in California, and the most recent attempts to legalize it were voted down, the state and its residents are in rather a unique position. When we explore the broader gambling landscape in the US and see that over 40 states now have some version of legalized online casino gaming and sports betting, the Californian perspective is an interesting one.
Casino and sportsbook reviews were not viable in the gambling industry until so many platforms began popping up. Understandably, they have become such a big part of it, with thousands of different companies emerging over the last 20 years and new ones springing up weekly. This has led to swathes of adjacent businesses due to industry growth, meaning sites like Casino.org and other affiliates have emerged, allowing players to check out online casinos instead of going through lengthy trial-and-error processes to determine which gambling platform they like the look of most. Along with this, we’ve also seen payment companies get in on the growing industry too, with many other companies keeping an eye on the ever expanding sector.
Gambling in California—a Country-sized Economy
Online casino gaming has exploded in popularity over the last decade. As the world’s most prominent economy, the potential for profit in the US market is astonishing, and the changes in legislation have facilitated a number of the world’s most prominent names setting up in the US and trying to carve off a piece of the market for themselves.
California is a unique location for gambling companies to try and crack because the state doesn’t need the revenue in the same way smaller states might. Many of the tech giants that make up the world’s most valuable companies have set up in California—it’s also home to Meta and a string of other multi-billion dollar companies.
Nvidia is the latest Californian-based company to make huge waves on the global stage. With tens of billions of dollars worth of revenue passing through the state every year, they have much more flexibility, time, and resources to fully explore whether or not they wish to introduce gambling within state lines.
Betting in San Francisco
Gamblers in San Francisco have the same remit as many other states' counterparts. California is a vast sporting state, home to the most recent great NBA franchise. The Golden State Warriors, the 49ers, and the San Francisco Giants are considerable names in American sports, so the idea that there isn’t a huge market waiting to be tapped into is also naive.
A recent attempt to legalize sports betting and casino gaming was voted down, which was a big blow to the gambling industry, which reportedly raised a collective $460 million in a bid to sway legislators. As with any hot topic, gambling is a polarizing and divisive conversation, especially in California, where they do not need to rely on additional, legalized forms of gambling to galvanize a tax base in the same way some of the minor states might need to.
Summary
Ultimately, it boils down to the age-old argument of the people vs. the state. Legislators in California believe they are acting in the best interest of their citizens, and this is definitely an argument to be had.
Problem gambling can wreak havoc on individuals and those closest to them—there’s no disputing that— and this is ultimately the main downside to any discussions about legislation. However, many people believe that not legislating it properly will simply drive the market underground, which has happened in many countries and states throughout history. It can amplify even more problems when it is not appropriately legislated—and this is where the balancing act lies.
The argument, then, revolves around the social harm that comes with the underground gambling black market. Usually, the taxpayer will have to foot the bill at some stage anyway, which is why legalization, legislation, and appropriate taxation are considered the lesser of the two evils by dozens of American states. However, California remains steadfast and holding firm in the wake of the enormous profits and tax base that could lay in wait for them.
You’d have to think that the legislators have done enough homework and spoken to enough of their citizens to vote down these proposals and that there’s still a strong enough collective opinion they can do without legalized gambling for now.
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