One of California’s most outspoken tribal leaders, Indian Gaming Association Conference Chairman Victor Rocha, said Wednesday that he feared a new ballot initiative seeking to legalize sports wagering in the state was “destined to fail” and could further “damage the brand” of mobile sports betting apps in the wake of a historic 2022 thumping at the polls.

“The reality is you have to get the California voters to approve it, and if they’re not ready to support any initiative, don’t move forward with a bad one,” added James Siva, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA). “It’s going to make it so much more complicated and expensive when tribes do come back and want to push something on sports betting.”