Two California lawmakers have introduced twin bills in the legislature that would legalize online poker.
This is the sixth year in a row that such a bill has been introduced. The lawmakers are Senator Isadore Hall III, chairman of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee and Assemblyman Adam Gray, chairman of the Assembly’s version of that committee.
The twin bills would allow an online poker website to operate within the state and would require that the California Gambling Control Commission and Department of Justice cooperate to write regulations for it.
Federal law forbids online gambling between states but allows it within a state’s borders.
Such laws have been introduced in previous sessions, but none has ever come to a vote.
Gray and Hall issued a joint statement: “The issue of iPoker in California has historically been divisive; dealing legislators, the governor and the public a folding hand. It is time to work together, stop bluffing and take control of this issue. Our bills do not create winners and losers. Our bills do not take one entity’s side over another. Our bills will give the Legislature, the Governor, tribal governments, other gaming entities, technology providers and the public an opportunity to have an open, honest and thorough debate on this issue.”
