The United Auburn Indian Community of Northern California has joined the PokerStars coalition of gaming tribes who support legalizing iPoker in the state and want to partner with the largest operator of online poker in the world.
The consortium has come out in favor of AB 2863 by Assemblyman Adam Gray. His bill does not contain a “bad actor” clause as has been insisted upon by the coalition headed by Pechanga. Others that support the bill are the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians and California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA).
Rincon’s Chairman Bo Mazzetti recently noted that his tribe initially wasn’t interested in iPoker. “But more and more the younger generation is on their machines and not so much into the slot machines. They are more into mobile platforms and table games and high tech. That is kind of the future, it appears,” he said.
The Auburn tribe has moved around on this issue, having sided with two of the other coalitions previously. Two years ago it sided with Pechanga, and opposed PokerStars as well as the participation of horseracing interests in online poker.
The coalition now includes the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the United Auburn Indian Community, Commerce Casino, Bicycle Casino, and Hawaiian Gardens Casino, plus PokerStars.
Political watchers in the Golden State are unsure whether this shift is enough to change the game significantly. Pechanga is big enough to keep any bill that it doesn’t like from being rammed through the legislation. Moreover, it still commands the loyalty of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Barona Band of Mission Indians, Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
Recently PokerStars commented, “The bill, authored by Assemblyman Adam Gray represents a breakthrough in the legislative logjam that has stymied efforts to pass online poker legislation for nearly a decade.”
San Manuel Chairman Lynn Valbuena added, “After eight years of discussion, very few issues remain outstanding…. We are optimistic that by working together we can get an iPoker bill passed this year.”
Gray’s bill would create a regulatory framework for iPoker, create a fund that would share as much as $60 million annually with the racetracks, include consumer protections and prevent underage play.
