Legal California Poker Looking Grim

The attempt to legalize intrastate online poker in California (that means California-run poker sites serving California residents only) is meeting with much opposition.

One problem is that voting on the proposal keeps getting delayed. It doesn’t look like the California Legislature is going to see it in time before this session closes on September 11. While according to Democrat Senator from Sacramento Darrel Steinberg, the skeptics in the state congress only want time to review the proposal and be sure of how much money it will actually generate for the California General Fund, proponents of the bill worry that this delay only gives the opposition extra time to rally their forces.

Another big problem is that several Indian gaming institutions have a big problem with the attempted legislation. Supporting the legislation are Morongo Band and the entirety of the California Indian Nations Gaming Association (36 members in all). But opposing them are the California Tribal Business Alliance (representing the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the  Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians), the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians, and the Rumsey Indian Rancheria.

Worst of all for Californian online poker players looking forward to the chance to win some money legally online is that the organization supporting poker everywhere – the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) – does not support the bill as it fears a monopolistic type scenario in which the consolidation of a lot of power into just a few operators’ hands minimizes those operators’ need and motivation to provide generous player incentives in order to entice business.