California has become the latest state to join a call for wider legalisation of sports betting in the US. Assembly member Adam C. Gray, chair of California’s Assembly Governmental Organisation Committee, yesterday (Thursday) put forward a constitutional amendment to authorise sports wagering in the state, contingent upon a change in federal law. In a statement, Gray said the ACA 18 amendment is in response to confirmation that the US Supreme Court will hear an appeal by the state of New Jersey in its own efforts to legalise sports betting. At present, sports wagering is only legal in four states, including…

From Los Angeles Times An appointee of Gov. Jerry Brown to the California Gambling Control Commission says the state could reap hundreds of millions of dollars annually if betting on sports were legalized. “There is the opportunity to raise money for the state,” Richard J. Schuetz told the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday. “More importantly, it would remove a criminal element.” Although legislation has been introduced creating a format for legalized sports betting in California, Schuetz noted that Congress would first have to change federal law to legalize that form of gambling in California. A legislative analysis of the bill…

From Sacramento Business Journal A bill that sought to legalize sports betting in California failed to move by the deadline Friday. Odd are that without a clear national policy in play, no effort will be made on the issue next year in California. Senate Bill 190 was introduced in February by state Sen. Roderick Wright, an Inglewood Democrat. It sought to legalize sports betting at the venues in California that allow legal gambling, which are Indian casinos, card rooms and horse racing tracks. The measure required bets to be made in person, with the idea that the new traffic would…