Casino Tribes' Donations Put Spotlight on Bonta's Fantasy Sports Crackdown

Between late 2023 and mid-2024, the tribes contributed funds while continuing their long-standing battle against online fantasy platforms such as DraftKings and FanDuelImage Source: Shutterstock.com

People are ngaking a closer look at California Attorney General Rob Bontaafter he got over $100,000 in campaign money from Native American tribesthat run casinos. This happened just a few months before his office said daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests broke the law in California.

California Tribes Back Bonta as He Labels Fantasy Sports a Form of Illegal Betting

The tribes gave the money between late 2023 and mid-2024. These same tribes have been fighting for a long time against online fantasy websites like DraftKingsand FanDuel. They say these sites compete head-to-head with their casinos and offer gambling without rules, pretending to be skill games.

In his official statementissued in 2025, Bontadetermined that fantasy sports platforms qualify as a “modern type” of sports betting banned under California law. The decision indicated that DFS operatorswere conducting illegal gambling activities, matching the interests of tribes who have tried to restrict online rivals.

Bonta’s team claimsthere was no conflict of interest. His spokesperson stated that while the attorney general turned down contributions from the fantasy sports industry during the evaluation period, he had no reason to refuse money from tribes because they were not part of the investigation, reported Politico. The tribes, the campaign added, “shared their view” on a matter of public interest.

Ethics Questions Rise as Tribes Win Long Battle Against Online Fantasy Platforms

The timing of the contributions has sparked ethical concerns. For years, tribal gaming groups have pushed Sacramentoofficials to clamp down on fantasy sports. They claim these platforms redirect billions in bets from regulated casino gaming. After Bonta’s ruling, tribal leaders applauded the decision and demanded swift action. They urged the attorney general to close down fantasy sports operations in California.

The fight over daily fantasy sports shows deeper rifts in California’s gambling scene. Tribal casinos, which have exclusive rights to run most types of gaming under state deals, view DFS platforms as a direct rival to their market power. Groups speaking for DraftKingsand FanDuelargue that fantasy contests need skill and should not fall under regular gambling laws.

Bonta’s positionaligns with earlier crackdowns on unregulated betting formats, like sweepsngakes and prediction markets. In recent talks, he stressed that his office has a legal obligation, not a choice, to respond when asked to weigh in on gambling issues.

Now that enforcement actions are likely, Californiamight end up as one of the toughest states for fantasy sports businesses to operate. For tribal casinos, the ruling represents a big win in their ongoing push to keep a tight grip on the state’s profitable gambling industry.