Native American Tribes Discuss California Poker
Written by Renee K | Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Efforts are being made by California’s Native American tribes to reach a shared consensus on internet poker in the state, and to examine how to approach a legalized online poker future to the benefit of the tribes.
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is pushing to create an affiliation that would involve all the tribes in the potentially huge online poker industry in the United States. The Tribe has already made efforts to introduce legislation whereby the game can be played online in the state.
The Morongo’s, however, are facing major objections from other tribes, who see the government’s relaxation of online poker laws to be of disadvantage to their own gambling operations.
Daniel Tucker, the chairman for the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, argued that should any changes be made in the current laws governing online gambling, many Native American tribes will be affected, and many could lose their jobs as a result.
Nevertheless, Tucker did not rule out the possibility of reaching an agreement on the topic that would benefit everyone involved.
The Morongo’s efforts to legalize online poker in California have also been met with objections by the California Tribal Business Alliance who are not interested in this type of industry.
Allison Harvey, Executive Director of the Alliance, said that any changes in the current laws would violate exclusivity clauses that the government has with casino tribes. New laws would only create legal confusion for the tribal casinos in California.
California currently makes around $1 million a day from the proceeds of gaming compacts with a number of tribal casinos.
In the meantime, California tribes are still trying to reach a consensus regarding the future of online poker in the Golden State. Jim Batten, a former state senator, said that there is a chance that an internet poker bill could be introduced this year but warned that “it will only work if there’s one front.”
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· Written by Renee K · Filed Under Poker Gossip · Comments Off
