Californian Online Poker Bill Encouragement

The Wright bill got a co-author and a support when influential state senator Steinberg signed it up Californian influential state Senate Leader, Darrell Steinberg, gave his support to SB1483 introduced by Senator Roderick Wright in his latest attempt to get intrastate online poker approved. The Wright bill, which is one of two competing internet poker legalization bills in California legislative system, would allow gambling firms to apply to the state Department of Justice for 10-year licenses on condition they ante up $30 million in licensing fees for each website. Wright and Steinberg introduced SB 1463 on the last day for legislation to be proposed for this year. Commenting the act Mark Hedlund, a spokesman for Steinberg, said: "We believe that there are millions of Californians already gambling illegally on the Internet. This bill sets up some standards and regulations and consumer protections.'' It has been years since a coalition of card clubs and Indian casinos have been trying to get Internet poker legalized in the state, competing with measures repeatedly launched by Sen. Wright. Unfortunately neither have made much progress hitherto. Thanks to the recent change in federal enforcement attitudes towards the Wire Act, and continued pressure on the state budget, this year could produce a breakthrough, which is in accordance with Steinberg belief that the bill could bring the state hundreds of millions of dollars.