California State Senator Lou Correa has withdrawn his online poker bill from consideration for the 2014 legislative session, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times. Senator Correa is chairman of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. This committee overseas all bills related to gambling before referring them to the full senate floor.
The decision was made due to the session ending at the end of August. Senator Correa felt this was not enough time to reach a consensus among California gaming interests that are split on some issues, including the bad actor clause. This clause would forbid companies that accepted U.S. players without proper licensing after December 31, 2006. This measure is designed to keep PokerStars, which was recently acquired by Amaya Gaming, out of the California online poker market.
California Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer Sr. has a similar online poker bill in committee. There is no word as to whether this bill is still considered to be alive. Considering the fact that the senate version has been abandoned for the session, it seems unlikely that any bill coming out of the assembly would be any better off due to the distance between interested parties on important issues.
The apparent death of online poker in the California Legislature would mean that no states will pass online poker regulations in 2014. This is a disappointment for the online poker industry that saw three states go live in 2013.
Nevada launched online poker in April 2013. Delaware and New Jersey went live with internet poker in November 2013. Delaware and New Jersey also regulate house-banked online casino games.
PrivateTable Waits on Sidelines
The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel announced plans to launch California online poker, regardless of whether the legislature passed regulations. The Iipay Nation intends to use its PrivateTable site for real money online poker. The site uses the same software as the U.S.-facing Winning Poker Network.
PrivateTable is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. It has yet to launch for real money. Play money tables are currently available.
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