In the state of California, online poker seems to be a goal that cannot quite be reached. Every interested party within the state, from card rooms to Indian tribes and legislators, cannot seem to come to an agreement on what should be included in legislation to legalize and regulate online poker within the states borders. The main concern seems to be whether or not to allow such companies as PokerStars, who operated in the past when real money game play was forbidden by the UIGEA. This is done by the Bad Actor Clause and some want to see this included while others do not.
Last week, the Western Indian Gaming Conference took place in the southern portion of the state and the main consensus seemed to be that tribes needed to compromise to be able to see the action take place within the state. The Chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Robert Martin, stated that his tribe would be compromising to be able to see online poker legalized within the state. According to Martin, a compromise must take place or online poker will not get done. At the end of the day, Martin believes that all they want is to do what is best for the tribes.
The tribes are divided based on the inclusion of horse race tracks as well as the bad actor clause. A coalition of tribal interests, including the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians is one that would see PokerStars excluded from game play as well as the race tracks. Also included in the coalition is the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians and they have decided to try and compromise more to move forward, saying it is going to take give and take on all sides to see online poker come to fruition within the state.
An attorney for the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, Stephen Hart, has stated he thinks that the horse racing industry should be included in the legislation for online poker gaming. Also included in Hart’s sentiments is that a transition of ownership would amend the classification of bad actor within the process.
Partnered with the Rincon Tribe, Caesars Interactive, seems to be in a position to be open to a bill that would allow such companies as PokerStars to take part in online poker gaming within the state. In an article by Pokerfuse, the Vice President of Corporate Communications for Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Seth Palansky, stated that they compete up and down the strip in Las Vegas each day. As long as each group is on a level playing field and regulations are set up for a win-win, then the group would be prepared to enter the market.
As many tribes have come forward to announce their interest in compromise and working together, other tribes have not budged on their thoughts of the subject. It seems to those on the outside that some type of compromise will need to be made in order for any legislation to pass. Several attempts have been made last year and into this year, with no success.
If the state of California wants to see online poker come to fruition, everyone needs to find some common ground. It will be interesting to see if other tribes come forward to announce their willingness to compromise or if they plan on continuing to hold out on their stance of online poker gaming within the state. Only time will tell if legislation will be proposed that caters to everyone’s needs or is a compromise enough to see the activity legalized and regulated within the state.