California Poker Bill Amended For Senate

Tribal pressure worked with Sens. Steinberg and Wright

Intrastate online poker legalisation proposal California Senate Bill 1463, introduced by Senators Darrel Steinberg and Rod Wright, will be once again before a Senate committee on June 12 following amendments designed to appease the tribal opposition.

The amendments will include:

* Limiting licence applications to existing card rooms and casinos already offering poker;

* The removal of a provision that introduced internet casino gaming after a two year period;

* The licensing duration period reduced from ten years to five;

* The removal of a clause requiring tribes to abandon sovereignty rights in order to hold a coveted online poker license;

* Trouble free record with the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) for all applicants supposing that applicants can form new partnerships with entities not bound by the three-year 'good standing' provision, which might create space for outsiders like Bwin.Party (recently announced a tribal partnership);

* Licence fees remaining at $30 million as originally proposed with a five year duration which can be renegotiated after that period;

* Online poker licenses will be issued by the CGCC, not the state’s DoJ;

* Bureau of State Audits reporting to the Legislature on the licensing and regulatory process at least four years after implementing the regulatory regime.

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