PokerStars opposes new California poker bill

The PokerStars coalition in California has said it opposes measures in the latest online poker bill introduced to the state legislature by assembly member Mike Gatto earlier this week.

The alliance, which includes the Morongo and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians as well as three of the state’s largest card rooms, said the bill was a “rehash” of previous legislation.

It includes a ‘bad actor’ clause seemingly aimed at keeping PokerStars and Full Tilt out of the market, despite their $4.9bn takeover by Amaya Gaming.

“Unfortunately, AB 9 is a rehash of previously unsuccessful proposals,” a spokesman for the coalition said.

“Any bill that seeks to establish artificial competitive advantages for some, while denying Californians the best online poker experiences, will only serve to divide the community and will be opposed by our coalition.”

The bill has also come under fire from the state’s horserace track operators who would be barred from operating an online poker site.

But the PokerStars coalition said it was “committed” to working with legislators to “pass Internet poker legislation in 2015”.

“We are convinced that the various interests must work together if we are to be successful in establishing a well-regulated environment and the best-in-class Internet poker industry for California,” the spokesman added.

AB 9 is very similar to legislation introduced by a coalition of 13 of the state’s tribes earlier in the year, and sets licence fees at $5m and tax rates at 5% of gross gaming revenue.

But the new bill also requires players to register for online poker accounts in-person at land-based gaming venues or “satellite service centers”, which appear to qualify as card rooms or tribal casinos.