Intrastate Online Poker in California a Possibility
Written by Renee K | Monday, June 29th, 2009
For all those who were feeling daunted by the legislative battle to legalize intrastate online poker in California, don’t give up yet. The organization leading the campaign is now thinking that it’s all looking easier than they originally thought.
If you can believe it, the California budget debacle is what may save the day for this online poker legal battle. Poker Voters of America (PVA) has suggested that the lawmakers for the State of California may be so desperate to bring in extra revenue that they are now seriously considering the online poker bill. After all, if anything can increase revenue, it’s online poker.
You might be asking how lawmakers can even consider legalizing online poker in light of the UIGEA laws that have been all the talk since they were introduced in 2006. Well, it’s quite simple really – UIGEA is a federal law.
Ex-assemblyman, Lloyd Levine created a bill in 2008 that recommends locating the Internet operator and the patron within the boundaries of California. This makes online poker in California a state issue and gets rid of any federal concerns. Still, there was opposition.
All this may change considering the dire state that the Californian budget is in. With the bill estimated to bring in $250 million in added revenue, the $25 million budget deficit seems like a drop in the ocean. If money speaks louder than concerns over gaming morality, then the legislators may just drop the debate and push the bill through.
There is already a lot of support for the bill in the Assembly and the Senate so as long as the bill meets consumer protection requirements, it’s likely to go through. There is also talk that new operations must be controlled by poker rooms and tribal casino that are already licensed in California. These are all minor details that can be ironed out once the bill has passed and its looking like the powers that be can start putting their plans together sooner rather than later.
Jim Tabilio, the president of PVA, has stated that the bill is likely to go through by mid-summer so poker fans need only hold on a little bit longer. If this bill passes in California, you can be sure than many of the other states will rush to get on the bandwagon. After all, money is money and online poker will create a bundle of it for the state.
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· Written by Renee K · Filed Under Poker News · Comments Off
