A pair of identical poker bills were introduced into the California state legislature Friday by State Senator Isadore Hall and Assemblyman Adam Gray. The bills, SB 278 and AB 43, would aim to legalize online poker in the Golden State. They are both stubs, meaning they are not complete, details bills yet, but rather provide the initial ideas of what they are trying to accomplish.
Before the actual language of the bills there is a “legislative counsel’s digest,” explaining the bills’ goals:
The bill would require the commission, in consultation with the department, to promulgate regulations for intrastate Internet poker. The bill would require those regulations to include, but not be limited to, a licensing process for an individual or entity to become an operator of an Internet poker Web site and rules for the operation of an Internet poker Web site.
The language of the bill itself is quite simple, as one might expect from a stub. Section one gives a digest of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, explaining that while it prohibits financial institutions from processing internet gambling transactions, it does allow individual states to legalize intrastate online gambling. Thus, Article 1, “General Provisions,” states, “An Internet poker Web site authorized pursuant to this chapter may be operated within the borders of the state in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.”
The real meat of the bill (what little there is) comes in the final article, Article 3, “Administration,” which reads:
The commission, in consultation with the department, shall promulgate regulations for intrastate Internet
poker. These regulations shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:
(a) A licensing process for an individual or entity to become an operator of an Internet poker Web site.
(b) Rules for the operation of an Internet poker Web site.
That’s it. Pretty basic stuff.
The coalition of Native American tribes, California cardrooms, and Amay Gaming (parent of PokerStars) that has recently come out against bad actor clauses in any online poker legislation, published a statement regarding the bills. From Pechanga.net:
We are optimistic about iPoker chances this year now that Senator Isadore Hall and Assembly Member Adam Gray have each introduced an iPoker spot bill this week (SB 278-Hall and AB 431-Gray). As Governmental Organization Committee chairs, this is a significant development and underscores that momentum is building to get an iPoker bill across the finish line in 2015. We will continue to work closely with Senator Hall, Assembly Member Gray and all legislators on the content and approach of legislation in the coming weeks and months.
Our position on iPoker policy remains the same. We support an iPoker bill which establishes a vibrant, competitive, fully inclusive marketplace with choices for consumers, and which also enacts strong consumer protections; requires strict oversight and regulation of operators and licensees; and ensures a financial return for the state.
Our coalition strongly believes that to be successful passing iPoker legislation this year, the various interests need to work together. We must abandon the failed policies of the past that divided the various parties. Instead of using the legislative process to pick winners and losers, any successful legislation must allow for a variety of providers to participate in the market while relying on regulators to determine strict suitability standards.