Can online sports betting help the homeless? California mayors back ballot measure

Can online sports betting help the homeless? California mayors back ballot measure

Article brief provided by The Fresno Bee
  • Lara Korte, The Fresno Bee
October 19, 2021 11:19 PM
  • Lara Korte, The Fresno Bee

The mayors of four big California cities are backing an online sports betting initiative that they say will help “countless Californians” struggling with homelessness by providing more state revenue for housing.

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Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia on Tuesday announced their support for a measure that would allow Californians to bet on sports games online. The proposal was introduced in August and is backed by major sports betting operators, including DraftKings, FanDuel and WynnBET.

The proposed initiative would use tax revenue from online sports betting to fund permanent shelter and housing for homeless people and expand mental health and addiction treatment services.