These compacts lay out how gambling will be regulated. In California, compacts allow tribal casinos to offer slot machines and other games on tribal lands. If the tribe and the state cannot agree, the federal government may issue a compact instead. When a tribe wants to offer gambling on its lands, federal law requires that the state negotiate a compact with the tribe. This means that the state generally cannot regulate tribal gambling except as allowed by (1) federal law and (2) federally approved agreements between a tribe and state (known as tribal-state compacts).
Native American tribes have certain rights under federal law to govern themselves, such as certain rights to offer gambling. However, state law allows some gambling, such as tribal gambling, the state lottery, cardrooms, and horse racing betting.
State law currently bans sports betting in California. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute. Proposition 27 Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands.
