California State Senator fighting hard for state online poker legislation

California State Senate has received another proposition for online poker legislation. The Golden State does not seem to have online gambling in mind for this year, most likely not for next one neither. But several online poker advocates want to urge that matter and push it real deep into the State’s next legislature. State Senators have been in a hurry since the beginning of this year 2015 as the online poker market could be another tool to lift up the Golden State’s economy. The most recent of these acts has been the regulation introduced last week in online poker legislation, sponsored by California State Senator Isadore Hall. The bill has started a few rumors and several publications have stated that the bill is not going to be part of 2015 legislature. One of the main reasons for this uncertainty has to do with the Senates hearings, not being scheduled for any time soon, as well as the opposition from Native American tribes (land-based casinos owners) who keeps bringing up the bad actor clauses. The deadline for bills to be considered in the 2015 legislation session is September, just a few months from now.

The rumors about California Senator not even taking seriously his own bill, Senate Bill 278, are coming from all kind of sources; some say that California State Senator Isadore Hall has not closed the door to online poker legislation; some other, like Lobbyist David Quintana, from Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians and the California Tribal Business Alliance (CTBA), stated: “He said he will not be setting or hearing any internet poker bills this year”. Robert Smith, chairman of the Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, stated: “Pursuant to recent media reports, it may be inferred that CTBA is opposed to the Internet poker bills currently before the California State Legislature. Given the important and sensitive nature of this policy matter, CTBA felt it was critical to clarify the record with the chairpersons of the respective committees of jurisdiction, as well as the authors of the bills.”