SB45 in some ways similar to the previously unsuccessful SB1485
Online gambling legalization scene in California came to life once again, as this week noted a new attempt of the Morongo Band of Indians and its associates to legalize online poker and another one by Senator Rod Wright, who launched his SB45 proposal on Dec. 8.
It was reported by the Capitol Weekly that Wright's new bill contains similarities to his previously proposed SB1485, which saw modest success and didn't manage to survive before the mid-term elections truncated the last state Senate session.
In addition, the reports state that both bills would require the California Gambling Control Commission to enter into contracts with up to three hub operators, who would be allowed to offer online poker to California residents under contracts lasting up to 20 years.
On Dec.6, poker legislation was introduced by Lou Correa on behalf of the California Online Poker Association (COPA), an outfit led by two southern California gaming tribes, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The Correa bill SB 40 implies that the California Gambling Control Commission should introduce a license to offer online poker within California.
A statement was issued by a COPA spokesman, who referred to attempts by Nevada Senator Harry Reid to federally regulate and legalize online poker. In the statement, he said:
“COPA opposes the current lame-duck effort by Harry Reid because it hurts California. Reid's effort rewards the Nevada gaming interests that gave him hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations during the recent election.
"California has a $25 billion deficit and an unemployment rate of 12 percent. Any revenues generated by Internet poker in California should stay within the state and not be shipped off to Washington, D.C., or Nevada or even offshore.”
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