Webis Holdings, the parent company of WatchandWager, has renewed its online wagering permit in California for a two-year term. This allows them to continue accepting wagers from California residents.
The permit was issued by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) and was valid from 2019 to 2021. Webis also operates the WatchandWager Cal Expo harness racing track in California.
The company was granted a three-month extension before receiving the full permit. Ed Comins, the head of WatchandWager, stated that the permit is crucial for the company’s operations.
California is considering legalizing sports betting. There are no current proposals on this matter, but a politician named Adam Gray may reintroduce a bill he previously proposed before the Supreme Court’s ruling on PASPA.
In the summer of 2017, Gray suggested modifying state legislation to permit sports wagering, contingent upon “federal law alterations,” explicitly referencing PASPA. Soon after the highest court in the nation declared PASPA invalid, Gray indicated he would reintroduce the legislative proposal. According to WatchandWager, the bill is on the verge of entering the committee phase in Sacramento.
Comins stated that the state’s endorsement of sports betting is highly probable, implying that WatchandWager, as a licensed track operator and racing organization, will be among the select few entities authorized to legally accept sports wagers, encompassing both online and at its California Exposition track facility.
“This is a period of significant upheaval for the American racing and gambling sector,” Comins remarked. “We anticipate providing sports betting to California inhabitants following the California legislature’s approval.”
Image: Sarah Sapp
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