California Internet gaming bill in doubt amid lots of opposition

Wednesday, June 30, 2010  

A bill to legalize Internet poker in California appears to be dead this year amid opposition from tribes and non-Indian card rooms.

The Senate Governmental Organization Committee took up the bill at a hearing yesterday. It failed to move out of the committee and its sponsor said it needed more work.

“I will prevail on the leadership of this building to try to move something; if we don't, we'll start again in the next session," said Sen. Roderick Wright (D), The Palm Springs Desert Sun reported.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians has been pushing for Internet poker but said Wright's bill was too broad. The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations also opposed the bill.

Get the Story:
Online gambling bill down, not out (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 6/30)
California Internet gambling bill dies (The Sacramento Bee 6/30)
Online gambling effort slows (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 6/30)

Related Stories:
Morongo Band joins tribal opposition to online poker measure (6/22)
Internet poker bill would require tribes to get state contract (6/2)
Internet poker bill in California doesn't address tribal rights (6/1)
California lawmaker plans to introduce bill for Internet poker (5/13)
California lawmaker readies bill to legalize Internet poker (4/27)