What is Proposition 26?
Proposition 26 is a BAD DEAL for ALL Californians.
The five wealthy Southern California Museum & tribal casinos behind Prop 26 have become some of the most powerful special interests in the state.
Now they are pushing to guarantee themselves a virtual monopoly on all gaming in California by giving private lawyers the powers of the Attorney General to bury their licensed cardroom competitors with frivolous lawsuits.
Prop 26 will EXPAND their monopoly over gaming, NOT require them to pay their fair share, and NOT require them to abide by the state’s worker protection laws.
Too Much Special Interest Money in Politics
The sponsors of Prop 26 have made billions of dollars from their slot machine monopoly in California. They are now among the largest campaign contributors to Sacramento politicians — passing out millions each election cycle to protect their winnings.
Prop 26 Hurts Small Businesses with Frivolous Lawsuits
This measure will lead to even more lawsuit abuse by allowing Prop 26’s sponsors to hire private trial lawyers and give them the powers of the Attorney General to sue their nontribal competitors — swamping California small businesses with frivolous lawsuits and putting them out of business.
Disproportionately hurts communities of color
Prop 26 will force cardrooms out of business and result in a loss of $500 million in local tax revenue statewide and 32,000 good-paying jobs. The lost jobs and tax revenue from cardrooms closing will disproportionately hurt communities of color who will be left with less funding for public health, homelessness services, senior centers, and after-school programs.
Exploiting Taxpayer Money at the Expense of Small Businesses and Employees
Despite staying open during the statewide COVID-19 lockdowns, the sponsors of Prop 26 took millions of dollars in Federal CARE Act funding meant for struggling small businesses that were forced to close during the pandemic. Those same tribal casinos operated day and night during the worst of the pandemic, subjecting their workers and patrons to a much higher risk of infection, illness and hospitalization.
Failing to Protect Workers
In exchange for a monopoly on slot machines, the sponsors of Prop 26 promised to abide by California’s strong worker protection regulations. But the tribal casinos behind Prop 26 have refused to be subject to the state’s benefits, family leave or sexual harassment laws, and have fired employees for speaking out for worker rights and even for turning in underage gamblers. One of the sponsors of Prop 26 even claimed they were not required to pay minimum wage. This measure does nothing to give tribal casino workers the protection they need.