Californian legal online poker bill to be delayed, Senator warns
A bill enabling intrastate online poker in California looks unlikely to be passed during the current legislative session, with the leader of the California Senate warning that it would not give the legislature sufficient time to properly examine the proposal.
A bill enabling intrastate online poker in California looks unlikely to be passed during the current legislative session, with the leader of the California Senate warning that it would not give the legislature sufficient time to properly examine the proposal.
As reported on EGRmagazine.com, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians is seeking a sponsor for its five-page draft bill that would create a centralised online poker website for customers within California borders, in order to expedite the proposal through the legislature by the end of the legislative year on 11 September.
Further obstacles to the Morongo proposal making it through the legislature next month came in the form of major gaming tribe the Pechenga Band of Mission Indians, which on Wednesday declared its opposition in a letter sent to other tribal leaders.
In the letter, Pechenga tribal chairman Mark Macarro wrote that “Pechanga has had a standing oppposition to online poker since proposals first surfaced last year, out of concerns for the far-reaching legal, political and policy consequences of an expansion of this magnitude.”
In support, Macarro attached the results of a poll commissioned through market research company EMC research which showed that 61% of 802 randomly selected registered voters opposed legalising internet poker, with only 36% in favour. Macarro said he hoped the findings would “help inform your tribe’s position on the proposals.”
The California Tribal Business Alliance (CTBA), which represents casino tribes the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians and the Pala Band of Mission Indians also sent a letter outlining its opposition to California legislators last week.