California Online Poker bill, more difficult than ever

Californians are still wondering why Many American Indian tribes are against any form of online poker within the Golden State, as many other US states seem to be increasing revenues, expanding a segment of the gambling market, and creating jobs. Some of the strongest American Indian tribes, owners of the many casinos and card rooms along California, have been opposing California’s online poker bill, making legislation a dream that will never come true. On the other hand, some other American Indian tribes have been supporting California’s online gambling regulation; five of these tribes, many card rooms in the state, the racing industry, and Amaya’s Poker Stars, got together last month to face the anti-online gambling coalition led by the Pechanga and Agua Caliente tribes. California Gambling Legislature does not seem to accept any changes for this year 2015; but 2016 could introduce several amendments as many other groups are pushing the Capitol Hill to evaluate new changes in the state’s gambling legislation.

San Manuel American Indian tribe is being one of the main supporters, trying to bring some common sense to the table by working on a new online gambling legislation for California. Jacob Coin, San Manuel’s executive director of public affairs, said: “At the end of the day it is going to be left to Adam Gray or the bill author to determine how and who will be accommodated in the legislation. They will do the calculations, politically, policy wise and other ways. The tribes on our side of the issue are fairly coordinated in terms of what we hope will be a good, strong run the balance of this session”. The American Indian tribe’s director is not the only who has been showing hope for California’s online gambling industry. Assembly Government Organization Committee’s chief consultant, Eric Johnson, has said: “Until the gavel goes down on the last night of session; anything is possible. Obviously, it is a short window. There is three weeks left. But to accomplish in three weeks what has taken 7½ years to get to this point is going to be a herculean task”. We could also read that an anonymous source from the Capitol Hill has added: “I do not see any momentum. There is no agreement among tribes. There is no groundswell of support from the people that are out there, playing. There is nobody banging on the door to the state Legislature saying: we want you to regulate online poker. We have got water issues. We have got fires burning throughout California. This does not register as being critical on the governor’s agenda. I do not see what has changed. We know there are two big issues. But there are other issues as well that have not even been discussed. There are regulatory issues, licensing affiliate issues. If horse racing gets a revenue stream in lieu of licensing there are non-gaming tribes that may also want a revenue stream. These are all things that need to get worked out. I just do not see it getting done.”