California tribes reach consensus on internet poker
Pechanga and San Manuel coalitions iron out differences as online poker regulation inches closer in the Golden State
A group of California’s most influential Tribes have reached a consensus on draft internet poker legislation, in a major boost for the hopes of egaming legislation in the state.
The coalitions led by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians ironed out a number of differences at a meeting in San Diego last week.
The number of branded sites a licensee could offer has been a major sticking point between the two coalitions, with Pechanga calling for just one and San Manuel for an unlimited number. However after the meeting the two coalitions agreed to set the number at two.
The tribes also reportedly reached consensus on excluding the state’s racetracks from being eligible for an internet poker licence, and on their opposition to so-called ‘bad actors’ entering the market.
“We have made excellent progress and will be working together on the passage of intrastate internet poker,” Jerome Encinas, tribal lobbyist, said.
“We are very happy that the Tribes have come together on key differences and look forward to providing agreed upon language to the legislature,” he added.
The Tribe’s attorneys are now working together on a streamlined bill that will be discussed at another tribal meeting on 27 May.
The consensus provides a significant boost to an internet poker bill being passed in the current legislative session, which ends in August.
With a population of 38m people California would become the largest internet gaming state in the US to date, with the Commissioner of the California regulator predicting the market to be worth more than US$500m in its first full year alone.
One potential roadblock is PokerStars partnership with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and three of the state’s largest card rooms, as reported in eGaming Review last month.