An undated letter from the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation that appears to push back on the “YES Pledge” for expanded gambling authored by Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) Tribal Advisory Council members has been sent to some California tribal leaders.
In the letter, obtained by InGame, Tribal Chair Lynn Valbuena writes that “the future of tribal government gaming in California is at risk” and that a proposed commercial gambling expansion will “will provide large profits for them, while undermining the fabric of Indian Gaming in California.”
The “YES Pledge”, which began circulating in September, encourages tribes to “commit to working together to secure voter or legislative approval of a tribally governed framework for online sports betting.” However, it is not supported by the biggest tribal association, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA). San Manuel is a member of CNIGA. Bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, and FanDuel comprise the SBA.
