California poker bill continues to make progress
PokerStars coalition says âsuccess is within our graspâ as AB 431 makes it on to the Assembly floor
California online poker bill AB 431 made another small step forward yesterday after it was released by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and on to the Assembly floor. [private]
The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Adam Gray back in February and made âhistoricâ progress last month after it was voted on and passed out of Committee for the first time.
The PokerStars coalition, which includes the San Manuel and Morongo tribes, said it was pleased the bill has passed through the Appropriations Committee and was âoptimisticâ about it making progress this year.
âSuccess is achievable this year when parties come together to collaborate in the best interests of Californians,â the coalition said in a statement.
âToward that end, weâve seen a growing coalition coming together in the interest of passing a bill that creates an open, competitive marketplace that protects consumers, provides a financial return for the state, and establishes a strong regulatory system.
âClearly there is much left to do to draft bill language that meets the needs of Californians for a safe and competitive online market, but success is within our grasp if all stakeholders seriously engage in the process,â it added.
It looked as though the bill would stall earlier this week after duelling letters were sent to the Appropriations Committee from tribal coalitions supporting and opposing its passage.
The Pechanga coalition said in its letter that the âissues that divide stakeholders remain unresolvedâ and that moving the bill forward would be âdirectly counterproductiveâ to progress.
AB 431 continues to make progress in part due to it being a placeholder bill with no specific language relating to license fees, tax rates, and âbad actorâ clauses.
Those details are expected to be discussed at two informational hearings in June and July in front of the Governmental Organization Committee.