Although some political observers say that an iPoker bill is dead for 2015, Assemblyman Adam Gray said recently of his bill, “The issue is alive.”
Gray was reacting to a statement last week from California Tribal Business Alliance lobbyist David Quintana, who claims that Senator Isadore Hall has put online poker on hold for this year. “Online poker is dead,” he was quoted by the Capitol Weekly, adding, “There was no momentum. He’s not going to hear the bills.”
The bill as it stands is a “shell bill,” i.e. most of the details need to be worked out.
The debate over internet poker took a decidedly nasty turn recently when the Viejas tribe began airing ads attacking PokerStars. The coalition of tribes and card rooms Viejas belongs to vehemently opposes participation by PokerStars and supports inclusion of a “bad actor” provision specifically aimed at the company.
PokerStars and its coalition reacted last week to the radio ads by launching “Californians for Responsible iPoker,” an website which aims to educate the general public about the issue. In the website’s “About Us” page it declares, “California state residents are best served and protected by the introduction of robust and responsible iPoker legislation. We want every Californian who believes they should have the freedom to safely play the game they love online to join the movement.”
The website calls for a marketplace that is “inclusive” while extending “strict consumer protections” and “high standards of accountability,” along with “stringent regulatory vetting of operators and service providers,” before issuing license. It argues that the state’s gaming regulators should determine the eligibility of license applicants, rather than specifically excluding potential applicants.
