Public Radio: Tribes in California split over Internet poker in state

Monday, August 22, 2011  

"Some Native American tribes and card rooms are going all-in on a measure that would let them set up poker websites. But many other tribes say they're being left out.

This is one political issue that's splitting California tribes - with potentially hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. About a quarter of the state's federally-recognized tribes want to partner with card rooms to get ahead of the online gaming curve. Some lawmakers see an opportunity for California to get ahead too. Senator Lou Correa, an Orange County Democrat, says the state should regulate and tax online poker. He says it could bring in up to $250 million.

Correa: "If California doesn't move ahead right now, the federal government will supersede California by passing their laws first, and we will essentially be left with very little revenue - compared with what we can have if we're the first one to implement the laws."

But the majority of tribes worry they'll be left behind by the tribes that support the bill. For example, Correa's measure would have the state charge $55 million to each group that applies to set up a poker site. Critics say the coalition of tribes and card rooms that supports the bill has that money - and the other tribes don't."

Get the Story:
Tribes Split Over California Bid to Regulate, Tax Online Poker (Capital Public Radio 8/22)

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California tribes lobby lawmakers on Internet gambling measure (8/17)
Tribes in California divided on bills to authorize Internet gaming (7/13)