Correa adds impetus to his proposal
This week's news from the Golden State report that Senator Lou Correa, who drafted California bill SB40, has amended the proposal to urgency status, so the state can “act quickly to secure potential online poker revenues before the opportunity is lost”.
This status change implies that the bill will remain active and retain the right to progress through this year's state legislative cycle without being subject to legislative committee deadlines. However, the urgency status process must be signed off by the governor of California, and only then will it come into effect.
According to Senator Correa, whose bill seems to have a wider support than the bill proposed by Senator Rod Wright: “With federal action looming and the market wide open, we have to quickly authorize online poker in California. To delay will mean the loss of more than $1.4 billion in new state revenue at a time when it is severely needed.”
The numbers mentioned are derived by a study conducted by former state finance director Tim Gage, which predicted a 47 percent increase over previous estimates due to the Black Friday effects. It has been specified that Correa's bill would extend the state's existing poker regulations to the Internet and authorize five online poker sites.
Namely, the first three sites would be launched as soon as they receive license from the Bureau of Gambling Control, whereas the other two sites would be released within three years of the launch of online poker.
In addition, the bill envisages that California's main gaming partners - tribes and card clubs - should be eligible to operate online poker, either cooperating with each other or individually. Also, there will be no "online poker cafes" and all illegal operation and play of online poker in California will receive penalties which have been modified in the new amendments to the bill.
It was assessed by advocates of a state legalization path that another legalization initiative presented recently, that of California Congressional Representative John Campbell which presents a federal gaming legislation, would lead California jobs and revenues out of the state.
Specifically, Sen. Correa stated: "California must act and act quickly to control its future. It is in the state's best interest to harness the collective strength of our established and trusted gaming partners to maximize the benefit to California."
Your feedback
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
