California Betting Legalization Posing No Threat for Nevada

Nevada Gamblers Heading to California Sports Betting

Officials Not Worried About Nevada Gamblers Heading to California

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 12 June 2021

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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According to recent reports, a number of sportsbook operators in Nevada are concerned about the potential loss of business stemming from sports betting being legalized in California. Voters in California will be able to cast their votes on a referendum seeking to legalize sports betting in 16 months.

Some sportsbook operators in Nevada expressed concern that when sports betting is legalized in California, which has become a valuable feeder state for Nevada, it could lead to a loss of business. This is because of the increased competition that will be created. However, many officials believe that Nevada has nothing to worry about in this respect.

Nevada Set to Smash Records

Despite the apprehension of some sportsbook operators in Nevada, officials believe that the unique business model of the state means that it has nothing to worry about. In fact, Nevada is expected to smash its own records in relation to sports betting totals this year.

Sara Slane, a sports betting consultant, said that Las Vegas had something that would ‘never go away’. She said that it was a ‘business model that is impossible to compete with’.

Chris Grove, a gaming analyst, added:

There’s no reason why California has to represent a threat to Nevada’s sports betting market. California drive-in traffic to Vegas remains robust despite the widespread availability of various types of gambling within the state’s borders.

So, despite the worries being expressed by some sportsbooks in Nevada, it seems that many believe that the state will not be affected by the legalization of sports betting in California. In addition, California will continue to operate as an important feeder state for key gambling destinations within Nevada.

With its solid reputation and huge revenue and handle totals when it comes to sports betting, Nevada has led the way in the world of sports betting. Of course, most people do not come to Nevada purely for sports betting – they also come for the casino resorts, world-class entertainment, and ambiance.

These are things that will not be affected by the legalization of sports betting in California, which means that people will not stop coming to places such as Las Vegas and Reno just because sports betting is available in California.

Looking Forward to a Successful Year

The voting on the referendum in California is still a long way off, and a lot could happen between now and then. In the meantime, Nevada is looking forward to a successful year both in terms of sports betting activities and casino gambling.

With restrictions across the state being lifted as COVID-19 infection rates come down, things are starting to get back to some form of normality for retail sportsbooks and casinos. In fact, the various restrictions and lockdowns over the past year have whetted the appetites of many sports fans and gamblers across the state.

As such, Nevada is looking forward to a very successful year in 2021 following the devastation experienced over the course of last year.