Internet gaming interests are donating millions of dollars to politicians and campaigns in California, The Los Angeles Times reports.

In the last year alone, gaming interests donated $1.36 million into the Democratic State Central Committee of California. Democrats are sponsoring SB 1463, a bill to legalize Internet poker for tribes, card clubs and racetracks.

"Today, the state of California is the leading Internet gaming market in the world,'' bill sponsor Sen. Roderick Wright (D) said recently, the Times reported. "The only thing is, we make no money and we have no [consumer] protections for our citizens who play.''

Wright introduced an Internet poker bill two years ago. Since then, gaming interests have spent $7.7 million on political contributions, gifts and lobbying, the Times reported.

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California offered piece of the action from Internet poker (The Los Angeles Times 5/15)