California Faces Odds As Online Poker Law Deadline Looms
As the deadline for California’s online poker legislation looms, lawmakers see many odds that will possibly hinder the law from being passed. The August 31 deadline has left lawmakers little room in passing the legislation. This move would have made online gambling legal within the borders of California.
Senate President Darrell Steinberg said that it was possible, but he did not see it being passed in the next four weeks. Steinberg is a sponsor of the law as well as Senator Rod Wright, from the Los Angeles district. They have met several oppositions from the California’s tribal casinos.
This law is estimated to rake in $200 million from licensing fees alone. But it has not seen any movement from the time that it was introduced in February. Steinberg remains firm on passing the law, but also states that he’s willing to see it through if there will be more consensus to the passing of the law.
Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians also supports the bill and thinks that the law still has the chance of getting passed before their session ends. Rincon Band operates a casino near the Valley center.
If the state of California will be able to pass the legislation, they will be one of the biggest markets for online poker. They currently have the 8th spot in the world’s largest economies and are very capable of housing a successful online poker industry without forming alliances with other states.
