California Online Poker Bill Delayed

California Online Poker Bill Delayed

Friday, 8 January 2016

Online poker fans in California have been left disappointed after legislators decided this week to remove a bill that could have regulated the industry from a scheduled hearing.

After months of hoping, the measure sponsored by Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer was due to be heard by the California State Assembly’s Governmental Organization Committee on Wednesday. However, the measure, which is officially known as AB167, was suddenly removed from the schedule despite supporters being prepared to move directly for a vote.

There were high hopes among members of the poker community before the delay that this latest attempt to regulate the industry would be successful. Unfortunately, this positivity has now turned to uncertainty and left many in the western state wondering whether online poker will ever get regulated.

Steve Stallings, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), argued that this online poker bill had been better formed than other potential legislation matters on the agenda.

“AB167 represents one of the last in a series of iPoker bills, which, unlike AB1441 and AB1437, were thoroughly vetted, debated, altered, massaged and continually passed over with the hope of a political miracle of consensus in the next year,” said Stallings.

Although AB167 is likely to be heard at some point this year, the latest dynamic hasn't given those in the United States much hope that things will move any further forward this year than they did in 2015.



Tags: Steve Stallings, California Nations Indian Gaming Association, Reginald Jones-Sawyer, CNIGA, California State Assembly, AB167