PokerStars working on California's online gambling market

PokerStars has laid its eyes on the Golden State, California. The poker room has started the negotiations two of the most powerful gaming organizations in the US state of California. On one side, PokerStars has the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and on the other side, the three largest card rooms in California (the Commerce Club, the Bicycle Casino and the Hawaiian Gardens Casino). The four of them confirmed their partnership with PokerStars in the Golden State of California as soon as the online gaming regulation changes. California is still the most powerful state in the US and is bringing out the debate on regulating online gambling, in particular after the US Federal Government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act back in 2006. This would be the chance for PokerStars to enter the US online gambling market as the poker room has not been accepted yet in both markets, Nevada's and New Jersey's.

However, the news has brought the attention of many other groups and coalitions, especially the Native American tribes such as the United Auburn Indian Community and Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. These groups are not very happy with the opening of the US online gambling market: "PokerStars was not mentioned once by name during the back-and-forth over bad actors despite being obviously central to the debate. All involved went to great lengths to refer obliquely to PokerStars, even if doing so was far more cumbersome than simply saying PokerStars". Robert Martin, Chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Tribal, said: "We’re pleased to announce our agreement with these established and proven organizations that represent millions of California poker players. We are confident that, together, we can offer a safe, secure, high-quality online poker experience that brings financial benefits to California while providing the highest level of accountability, choice, service and protection for consumers. Efforts by a select few interests to rewrite longstanding and effective policy in order to gain a competitive market advantage or to lock out specific companies are not in the best interests of consumers or the state and will be vigorously opposed by our coalition, online poker players and many others."