# California Tribes Seek Online Sports Betting Input

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) in June 2024 to commercial online sports betting vendors to gather input for a proposed 2028 ballot initiative aimed at legalizing and regulating online sports betting in California. This initiative is designed to operate under a tribally-led, Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)-compliant framework emphasizing tribal sovereignty, exclusivity, revenue sharing, responsible gaming, and data ownership. Follow-up engagements with selected respondents are ongoing as CNIGA explores multiple market structure scenarios to establish a consortium model for online sports betting operations.

- **Why this matters:** This RFI signals a significant upcoming procurement opportunity for commercial vendors interested in partnering with California tribes in a potentially large and regulated online sports betting market.
- The focus on tribal sovereignty and exclusivity indicates that procurement and partnership models will prioritize tribal leadership and compliance with federal gaming regulations.
- Vendors should prepare to engage with a consortium-based approach that may require tailored solutions respecting tribal data ownership and responsible gaming standards.
- This development highlights the importance of understanding tribal regulatory frameworks and the evolving legal landscape for online sports betting in California.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 21, 2026

### Government Entities
- California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA)
- National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC)

### Sources
- [CA Tribes Seek Thoughts On OSB From Commercial Industry](https://www.ingame.com/california-tribes-seek-commercial-osb-input) - ingame.com
- [California tribes seek thoughts on online sports betting from commercial industry – CDC Gaming](https://cdcgaming.com/brief/california-tribes-seek-thoughts-on-online-sports-betting-from-commercial-industry) - CDC Gaming