California Moves Ahead to Legalize Online Poker
Written by RogerCP | Monday, May 31st, 2010
The state of California has given its first green light to a legalized online poker industry by authorizing an intrastate poker system.
According to EGR, the amended version of SB 1485, that will essentially see online poker offered in the state, was introduced by Senator Rod Wright just before the weekend.
Interestingly, the bill has been given urgency status, highlighting the need for California to find different sources of revenue as a top priority. By being granted this status, the bill only has to receive the signature of the governor in order to come into effect. Any bill not granted this status needs to wait until the beginning of 2011 to come into effect.
And California certainly needs the cash. The latest numbers show that the state’s budget deficit has grown to $19 billion, and with higher costs and greater rates of unemployment, this will only rise.
Ironically, the bill will appear before California legislators on June 1st, the very same day that the federal level Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is set to kick in.
The amended bill introduced by Wright will have the Department of Justice award a total of three contracts – each for five years – to operators to run online poker sites. The condition will be that these sites are run by Californian based companies and that only state residents can play at them.
Online poker experts fear that the fact that the poker sites will limit uses to state residents only could mean a small player pool and true poker fans will still seek the services off offshore sites. However, the state still believes that by introducing a safe and regulated option for Californians, money will land in state coffers and poker fans will be able to make a calculated choice about their gaming options.
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· Written by RogerCP · Filed Under Poker Gossip · Comments Off
