Tribe That Owns Red Hawk Casino Adds $2 Million to Prop 26 Campaign

The California tribe that owns Red Hawk Casino, the state’s sixth-largest casino, made a splash in the sports betting campaign spending war.

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians filed a $2 million contribution to Yes on 26 on Sept. 23. The tribe had made nine previous donations, but none totaled more than $3,490.03. This most recent $2 million donation put Yes on 26 funding above $111.8 million and total Prop 26 and Prop 27 campaign spending above $414.2 million.

After spending much of the election on the financial sidelines, the Shingle Springs Band unloading such a large donation signals that, like Prop 27, Prop 26 backers realize they need to make up plenty of ground for a chance to pass this November.

Polymarket, an online crypto prediction market, has markets on the likelihood of Prop 26 and Prop 27 passing in California. With market prices translated to percentages, as of Sept. 26, 80% of investors think Prop 27 will fail and 71% think Prop 26 will fail.

Prop 26 would legalize sports betting only in-person at tribal casinos and the four licensed California horse racetracks. Prop 27 would legalize sports betting only online and via mobile devices.

Although $2 million sounds like a lot, it pales in comparison to the amounts other tribes have spent.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, which owns Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, California’s largest casino, has donated north of $78 million to No on 27. The Pechanga Band of Indians, which own Pechanga Casino Resort, California’s second-largest casino, has donated more than $25 million to Yes on 26. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which own Graton Resort & Casino, have donated more than $30 million to Yes on 26.

PROP 26 vs. PROP 27: How Much Can the LA Times Opinion Truly Affect the California Sports Betting Election?

Red Hawk Casino Details

Red Hawk Casino is located about 44 miles east of Sacramento. It offers 2,500 slot machines, 75 table games, a seven-table poker room, and 88,000 square feet of gaming space. It is also currently building a five-story hotel and 85,000-square-foot amusement center (featuring things like go-kart racing). Those will both be finished in late 2022.