Sycuan Band, Kumeyaay Nation, Daniel Tucker Oppose US Poker
Written by Roger S | Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
With California’s Native American tribes having such a powerful influence on the outcome of a bill that may bring intrastate poker to the state this year, it is interesting to see what tribal gaming groups have to say about legalizing and regulating online poker and gambling on a national level.
As could be expected, there is no unity on this issue and some tribes have expressed their support, while others are adamantly opposed to it.
The bottom line is that the wealthy tribes are trying to protect their own gambling interests as much as possible and have therefore come out against the legalization of online poker and casino games by the federal government.
The Chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Daniel Tucker, said in a statement to the Indian Country Today publication that the move by Barney Frank to change the current status quo could be a threat.
“The recent drive by members of Congress to legalize Internet casino gambling nationwide represents the greatest threat to Indian gaming in the last 20 years,” he said.
Not all groups are as outspoken as Tucker, but all of them are actively trying to discover how they will be affected should Barney Frank’s bill be passed. Many of them have no problem with the bill as long as they are not impacted financially, and as long as there is no danger to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act passed in 1998.
The National Indian Gaming Association has not yet made an official statement on the developing issues, but said that it would do so by April at its April membership meeting in San Diego.
Gaming analysts believe that tribal gaming groups’ fears that they will be affected by online casino legalization is unwarranted as the majority of online bettors enjoy poker or sports betting – something not typically offered at tribal casinos.
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· Written by Roger S · Filed Under Poker Gossip · Comments Off
