This weekend, a report was published on the Online Poker Report website, suggesting that Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, an influential tribal group, may be backing down from its insistence on "bad actor" exclusion clauses in any bills regarding California online poker legalization, aimed at companies that provided web-gambling services to US players following the 2006 UIGEA.
Such a decision would benefit Pokerstars, which is in a Californian coalition with several tribal groups which do not look favourably upon such clauses.
The main basis for the report is last week's debate between Morongo Band chairman Robert Martin, who opposes the bad actor clause, and Pechanga Mark Macarro, both of whom were in San Diego attending the National Indian Gaming Association convention.
Martin stated that the two tribes are "pretty closely aligned except when it comes to the [race] tracks. I agree with him.”
He was talking about the Pechanga's opposition to legalised web-poker being offered by racetracks in California, which have shown interest in entering the sector should it become legal.
The Pechanga are relatively inconsistent in their approach to the issue. Just earlier this year they signed a letter to Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, expressing opposition to his proposal due to its lack of a bad actor clause.
For them, it seems that the legalization of web-poker in California without a bad actor clause is the more acceptable option, the other being racetrack involvement in online poker.
Some Californian legislators and the government may be reluctant in excluding the racetracks, due to the complicated political situation in the state. Racetracks have the needed regulatory oversight and experience to justify becoming involved in the new stream of online revenue.
Your feedback
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
