Tribal pressure worked with Sens. Steinberg and Wright
Intrastate online poker legalisation proposal California Senate Bill 1463, introduced by Senators Darrel Steinberg and Rod Wright, will be once again before a Senate committee on June 12 following amendments designed to appease the tribal opposition.
The amendments will include:
* Limiting licence applications to existing card rooms and casinos already offering poker;
* The removal of a provision that introduced internet casino gaming after a two year period;
* The licensing duration period reduced from ten years to five;
* The removal of a clause requiring tribes to abandon sovereignty rights in order to hold a coveted online poker license;
* Trouble free record with the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) for all applicants supposing that applicants can form new partnerships with entities not bound by the three-year 'good standing' provision, which might create space for outsiders like Bwin.Party (recently announced a tribal partnership);
* Licence fees remaining at $30 million as originally proposed with a five year duration which can be renegotiated after that period;
* Online poker licenses will be issued by the CGCC, not the state's DoJ;
* Bureau of State Audits reporting to the Legislature on the licensing and regulatory process at least four years after implementing the regulatory regime.
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