California Hearing Skates Around the Issues of Legalizing Online Poker
Key Takeaways
  • Yesterday’s joint California Senate and Assembly hearing on gambling carried the title “Overview of Gambling in California-Legality, Authorization and Regulation,” and true to its name, the testimony provided a general overview of gambling in the state and little in the way of specifics around online poker.
  • Online poker stakeholders did not even take the opportunity during the public comment period to try to persuade lawmakers to see points of contention from their point of view.
  • The need for political compromise was duly highlighted. Lawmakers will now need to find the appropriate language so that the vested interests can combine to support a bill which will permit state regulated online gambling.

Yesterday’s joint California Senate and Assembly hearing on gambling carried the title “Overview of Gambling in California-Legality, Authorization and Regulation,” and true to its name, the testimony provided a general overview of gambling in the state and little in the way of specifics around online poker.