FanDuel owner still hopeful about California prospects, but ballot measure defeat looms large

FanDuel owner still hopeful about California prospects, but ballot measure defeat looms large

Article brief provided by Covers
  • Geoff Zochodne, Covers
November 9, 2022 5:42 PM
  • Geoff Zochodne, Covers

The chief executive officer of FanDuel’s parent company was optimistic on Wednesday in discussing the prospects of sports betting in California — but that was before it was totally clear how badly an online-wagering measure was going to lose in the state.

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With 100% of precincts partially reporting on Wednesday afternoon (on the East Coast, anyway), Proposition 27 had been approved by just 16.7% of California voters and rejected by 83.3%.

That was worse than what public polling had suggested about the ballot measure, which would have provided a way for operators such as FanDuel to legally offer online sports betting sites in California.

FanDuel pumped more than $35 million into the pro-Prop 27 campaign, according to state records.