In California the rivalry between groups interested in the legalisation of online poker has increased this week with one organisation turning up the heat in a media campaign and another calling for a slow-down in order to achieve a more considered and consensual approach.
The California Online Poker Association, backed by the Morongo and San Manuel bands of Indians as well as many land card rooms, has begun airing radio and television ads urging the Legislature to pass Senate Bill 40 by Sen. Lou Correa (see previous reports), whilst the California Tribal Business Alliance has appealed for less haste and more thought on the legalisation issue, reports the Sacramento Bee newspaper.
A sense of urgency has been created by the fact that the Legislature begins its final month of business for the year in October, implying that failure to push a bill to completion now will mean a return to the debate in the next legislative season.
One of COPA’s ads pushes budget buttons in the indebted state, noting that tax on legalised poker revenues could help alleviate the financial situation:
“Unfortunately, nurses, police, fire and services for the poor and disabled will all be cut again if California doesn’t find $4 billion in new revenue by December,” the advertisement warns. “There is a solution. By approving online poker, California has the ability to tap $250 million in new money immediately and billions in years to come.”
The ad also urges listeners to “tell the politicians in Sacramento to authorize online poker now. California needs the money and Californians need the jobs.”
The rather exclusive nature of the COPA initiative has generated opposition from many other gambling tribes that believe Correa’s proposal does not give them enough opportunity to cash in on potential riches.
Robert H. Smith, chairman of the California Tribal Business Alliance, published a letter Tuesday asking the Legislature not to act on Internet gambling in the remaining weeks of the session.
“Even though there have been hearings on the matter of intrastate Internet poker, many fiscal, legal, technical and policy related questions must be resolved before adoption of any intrastate Internet gaming legislation,” Smith claimed.
“There are numerous stakeholders who stand to be irreparably harmed should legislation be ‘ram-rodded’ through this legislative year and this surely would be a disservice to ALL Californians, Tribal and Non-Tribal, alike,” he continues.
“For these reasons, we believe the Legislature should not take any action on intrastate Internet poker legislation during the final month of the legislative year and should instead opt to utilize the interim to work with all interested parties to develop a consensus bill.”