That has fueled suspicion about his motives and criticism about a paternalistic strategy of dictating to tribes, even as he’s promised not to proceed without them. Thompson and his team have alienated potential allies by barreling ahead before securing the blessing of tribal leaders. “We knew we could make this happen and come up with a solution for the tribes.”

“People just think: ‘This is too good to be true,’” Thompson told POLITICO in one of his first extensive media interviews since submitting the ballot measure last month. He has promised to bankroll the campaign without seeking a dime from tribes, estimating that signature gathering for the ballot initiative alone could cost $25 million. He is vowing to deliver a windfall for tribes by moving assets from illegal offshore sites where many Californians currently place bets into tribal control - transfers that he would manage, giving him a cut of the proceeds. Thompson argued the financial upside makes for an irresistible offer. With the ballot initiative qualifying cycle well underway, they are forcing a swift decision from tribes that just spent hundreds of millions of dollars repelling out-of-state operators DraftKings and FanDuel and pursuing their own, unsuccessful betting initiative. Thompson and Collins are making a huge bet that California’s powerful, entrenched Native American tribes will set aside their anger at being excluded from the start of the process and get on board.

“The approach of essentially holding tribes’ feet to the fire - you’re either going to get on board with this, or we’re going to do it - that’s never going to work with us.” “The entire approach has been error from the very beginning,” California Nations Indian Gaming Association Chair James Siva said in a webcast this week.

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