Playtech to Provide Online Poker Services to Californians?

COPA makes the choice about its new supplier At the beginning of the Californian online poker legislation initiative with two proposals on the table, it looks like Playtech plc has already hit an inside track in the intrastate drives. This week, the California Online Poker Association (COPA) has announced that Playtech plc, based on the Isle of Men, is going to provide online poker services if its proposal is adopted since they have signed a software licensing pack for online poker technology and software. COPA is a coalition of 31 Californian land poker rooms and 29 tribal groups including Morongo Band of Mission Indians that is a key supporter of Sen, Lou Correa's Senate Bill 40 which strives to legalize online poker in California. Morongo Spokesman Robert Martin recently assessed that Black Friday couldn't have come in a better moment because the biggest offshore Internet poker operators were removed from the Californian market. Before legalized online poker becomes reality, Playtech and Sciplay, the joint venture of Scientific Games Corp. and Playtech Limited, have plans to offer free poker in “play for fun” mode by the end of 2011, with an aim to boost recognition of the venture. According to the study by former California State Finance Director, Tim Gage, the state will generate more than $1.4 billion in new state revenue by authorizing online poker, which is 47% more than previously estimated. Also, in a poll by Tulchin Research, 66% of Californians favor the legalization, and in addition, even 76% of them prefer that online poker is operated by tribes and card clubs.