Indian Country is reporting that California Assemblyman Adam Gray is ramping up efforts to regulate and legalize online poker in the Golden State.
Gray’s assembly bill (AB) 2863 was “quickly met with support by California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Chairman Steve Stallings,” the report notes.
The key differential from past bills: California’s horse racetracks would be excluded from operating in the poker industry, and in exchange would receive up 95 percent of the first $60 million collected with the other 5 percent going to the State Treasury.
“CNIGA was established to promote, protect and preserve the interests of Indian tribes with respect to the conduct of gaming activities,” Stallings subsequently said in a written statement. “For more than 28 years, CNIGA has focused on Indian casino issues.”
“However, as technology changed, so did the demographics of today’s gaming patron. Many don’t want to just sit in front of a slot machine or at a card table. They want a different experience that meets their lifestyles,” he concludes.
So what’s next for the bill and the future of online poker in California? Right now, the momentum looks favorable.
To read the full report, click here.
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