The populous state of California has for some time been predicted as the next entrant into the United States Internet gambling industry. By virtue of the largest population of any US state, California would instantly be the national leader in the new online gambling market. The Golden State has had a gambling-friendly attitude for just about as long as it has been in existence. Physical card rooms and casinos can be found in California, with those casinos run by tribal Indian groups. A baker’s dozen of California Indian tribes has reached an agreement on an Internet poker proposal for the state, and there are currently two bills sitting before the state legislature awaiting votes which would also legalize online poker.
13 California Indian Tribes Agree on Internet Poker Proposal
The agreement between the 13 influential California Indian tribes comes after 5 long years of dispute. Casino operators run by other tribes disagreed with the Internet gambling proposals set forth by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians could not agree with the San Manuel Band and others, but now those two powerful California tribal groups anchor a conglomerate that proposes a consensus for Internet poker. They recently sent a letter to California state Senator Lou Correa and state Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer outlining their proposed piece of legislation.
AB 2291 and SB 1366 Online Poker Bills Awaiting Votes
The California tribal proposal was addressed to those two specific California lawmakers because each has offered his own bill that would legalize Internet poker in California as well. AB 2291 is a bill drawn up by Jones-Sawyer, with SB 1366 anchored by Correa. Both of those propositions call for legalized Internet poker as early as late 2014 or early 2015, with language allowing for a possible inclusion of online gambling and other forms in the future. Including the Indian tribal proposal, that makes three significant pieces of legislation which are driving to legalize online poker in the great state of California. Pennsylvania and roughly a dozen other states are pursuing legalizing forms of online gambling, but the current efforts in California make it the front-runner to become the fourth state to join the US online gambling marketplace.
Morongo Indian Tribe and PokerStars Ready to Deliver Cyber Poker
The only possible problem could arise from the inabilities of one group or another to make concessions which would allow for easy passage of an Internet poker piece of legislation. On a positive note, an agreement was reached earlier this year between three of California’s popular card rooms, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and Internet poker provider PokerStars. That agreement was reached so that the newly formed partnership could provide Internet poker to California citizens and travelers when and if some type of online gambling legislation legalizes cyber wagering in the state. PokerStars was recently purchased by the Amaya Gaming Group, creating the world’s largest gambling company.
Amaya is a well respected gambling industry power, giving the tarnished PokerStars image a much-needed boost. Amaya has years of experience developing physical gambling hardware and software, and could instantly deliver an online poker product as soon as Internet poker is legalized in California. With at least one state Senator, one assemblyman and 13 tribes, 14 counting Morongo, proposing legal Internet poker for Golden State residents, the ability to shuffle up and deal in a virtual poker setting looks to be a California reality in the very near future.