California May be the Catalyst for Legal Online Poker in 2009
Could the land of Hollywood movie stars and a larger than life “Terminator” Governor be the birth place of legal online poker in 2009? If a bill penned by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine is passed, then the answer is yes. Called the Gambling Control/California Intrastate Online Poker Act, the bill seeks to “study the ability of the state to protect Californians by licensing and regulating intrastate poker websites”.
Originally introduced in February the bill has been put in the inactive legislative file so that the original author can add some pizzazz to the bill with more authors and gain some traction in 2009. Since this bill was born in California, who hosts a large number of live card rooms (such as the Bicycle Casino and Bay 101) it may just have the legs to finish this race. If passed it would be a landmark achievement for the online poker industry and possibly allow rooms such as Full Tilt Poker to operate legally in the US for the first time.
With California in a budget deficit this could be the cash injection needed to help soothe tensions with many residents and Governor Schwarzenegger. There’s a big debate right now over his refusal to lower many prison guards pay to near minimum wage levels. Perhaps by legalizing and regulating online poker the additional tax revenue could prevent this.
Regardless, the bill has a ways to go before it’s passed and it’s essentially a study. If passed though, it may lead the way for the rest of us non-Californians to enjoy the game of online poker legally in our homes.
Well, if you are an American that isn’t from Cali, check out one of our best poker sites for Americans.
