Gatto cancels California online poker hearing
Assemblyman says it is the âright thing to doâ as stakeholders are still divided over what the regulated market should look like
The push to get online poker legislation across the line in California this year has received its first major blow after Assemblyman Mike Gatto (pictured) confirmed he was cancelling the hearing due to take place on his bill (AB 9) next week. [private]
In a statement, Gatto said it was âthe right thing to doâ as the tribes, card rooms, racetracks and other stakeholders had been unable to reach consensus over what regulated internet poker should look like in the Golden State.
âOver the past three years, I have met with representatives from nearly every software provider, card room, gaming tribe, racetrack, and internet-poker operator who has an opinion on the subject,â Gatto said.
âI gave my word to both supporters and opponents of AB 9 that my goal was consensus, and that I would not move forward with anything that achieved less than that.
âI will continue working to craft legislation on which the interested parties can agree, and which is good for the people and treasury of the state of California,â he added.
But it might not be the end of AB 9, which is tagged with an âurgencyâ clause meaning it can be resurrected at any time during the current legislative session.
Despite Gatto folding on his push for regulation, California has made unprecedented progress in recent months with a bill â tabled by Assemblyman Adam Gray â passing out of Committee and on to the Assembly floor for the first time.
However the bill is a âplaceholderâ bill, which means it contains no specific language over tax rates, license fees, and those eligible for an internet poker permit.
Those details are being thrashed out through a number of hearings taking place in the coming months, with stakeholders still struggling to reach consensus over âbad actorâ language and whether the racetracks should be allowed in on the action.