PokerStars: Lack of harmony killed California bill
Operator says failed attempts to legalise online poker in the Golden State was down to lack of agreement between stakeholders and not bad actor clauses
PokerStars claims it was not to blame for online poker legislation failing to get across the line for another year in California and suggests the lack of universal support for legalisation was the real reason for the lack of progress.
The operator has been blamed by some spectators in recent months, many of whom claim the ‘bad actor’ clause keeping out operators who accepted US bets post-UIGEA is one of the last remaining hurdles preventing a legal online poker framework.
However PokerStars and its tribal casino partner Morongo, spent the summer lobbing lawmakers in California over the clause and continue to label it a thinly veiled attempt at barring the firm from entering the market.
“No, PokerStars was not responsible [for the collapse of online poker legislation],” Guy Templer, PokerStars’ director of group strategy and business development (pictured), told eGR North America in an exclusive interview.
“There were many factors at play. Although consensus towards internet poker was at its strongest in the last few years, it was still not universal.
“Legislation will only happen in California when there’s agreement upon a need for a competitive marketplace that allows all interests, large and small, to compete fairly and responsibly and in a manner that makes a fair contribution to the state,” he added.
This lack of cohesion among Native American tribes led to Senator Lou Correa and Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer pulling their internet poker bills just days before the legislative session ended, with both saying there was not enough time to iron out the differences, including what role the state’s racetracks would play.
Jones-Sawyer has since said he intends to introduce a new online poker bill in December when the start of the next legislative session officially gets underway.
He also said that ‘bad actor’ language needs to be amended so that it is “applied fairly” and avoids any possible future legal challenges.”
A full, in-depth interview with Guy Templer will be published in the September edition of eGaming Review North America.