For the first time an iPoker bill in California has been moved forward out of committee. So now the amended version of AB 431 has been posted for the world to see and comment upon. It was referred to the Appropriations Committee.
Although amended, the bill remains a “shell” bill with much of its guts remaining to be determined. Those details will need to be determined before the bill can come for a vote in either the Assembly or the Senate.
New language in the bill limits operation of iPoker to “qualified entities,” which is not defined. Whether those to be determined definitions include racetracks and PokerStars, or some definition that would allow PokerStars, will determine the landscape of debate upon which lawmakers will vote.
Because the bill as written is so vanilla accounts for its movement forward, which occurred by a unanimous vote. Obviously, the battles have just been postponed for another day. Before the change a number of tribes have registered their official opposition to the bill. They included the Pechanga Band, the Agua Caliente Band and the Viejas Band.
Now those tribes have adopted a wait and see stance. “We look forward to a meaningful process and arriving at comprehensive legislation that respects California’s longstanding public policy of limited gaming, protects children and the vulnerable, creates jobs, provides additional revenues for the State, and protects consumers and the integrity of the gaming industry from organizations that do not and have not respected U.S. law,” said Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro in a statement that followed the vote.
Bo Mazzetti, chairman of the Rincon tribe, which has adopted a moderate stance towards passage of a bill, greeted the passage of the bill out of committee with optimism that some action will result this year. “We look forward to the informational hearings and discussing the issues in greater detail. More importantly, we look forward to finding solutions to the sticking points and common ground through compromise,” he said.
The legislature’s Joint Governmental Operations Committee will be holding information hearings on “Overview of Gambling in California–Legality, Authorization and Regulation” and “The Legality of Internet Poker–How Prepared is California to Regulate It?”
During those hearings the shape of the landscape of supporters and opponents should begin to appear.
By the time the Assembly’s Governmental Organization Committee meets on July 8 the battle lines should have been set and the shape of the final bill will probably be known.
September 11 is the last day that any bill can be passed this year.
