Internet Gambling to be Discussed in California in February
California is known as being one of the more liberal states in America. This is why it is not surprising at all that lawmakers from the state of California will begin discussions about being the first state to legalize Internet gambling in the United States.
The Governmental Organization Committee, which is mainly responsible for laws dealing with gambling in California, will start talks in February about the legalization and regulation of online gambling. Chairman of the committee Roderick Wright has recently confirmed that these discussions will take place and the main topic will be about Internet poker.
California does not have a lot of wiggling room to bring more than the game of poker to Internet gamblers. The state has quite a few compacts with Indian tribes that involve gambling in land-based casinos and any foray into the Internet gaming market would have to be approved by the tribes before it is regulated and legalized.
One tribe that is in favor of the legalization and regulation of online gambling is the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. This tribe is a leading casino provider in the state of California and their view of the issue will carry a lot of weight with other state tribes.
If it is the case that California changes their laws to include Internet poker regulations it is probable that the Indian tribes would first want the chance to go online. It is a distinct possibility, in terms of gambling revenue, that it will be beneficial to both the state and the Indian tribes in the state.
The Internet gambling issue is one of the more popular and debated issues in the country these days. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) has been at the center of many of those discussions and debates.
US Representative Barney Frank has proposed legislation that would overturn the UIGEA as well as set up a special foundation that would regulate the Internet gambling industry in the United States. Frank, and many others who support the legalization of the online gambling industry, recently scored a victory for their cause by having the rules for the UIGEA, which were to go in effect on December 1, 2024, delayed until next June.
The talks in California dealing, mainly, with online poker will be watched closely by other states and by lawmakers at the national level. If online poker is legalized and regulated in the state it becomes more likely that it will happen at the national level as well.
