The lines are being drawn in the political battle for online poker legalisation in California; last week a Pechanga-led tribal coalition expressed disagreement with certain clauses in the latest version of Assemblyman’s Adam Gray’s AB2863 (see previous report), and Friday saw an equally pointed response supporting the bill from an impressive alliance of 21 state cardrooms, operators, tribes, unions and racetracks.
In a brief but emphatic letter of support to Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez, the chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, the alliance expressed support for advancing the bill through the committee stage and continuing dialogue on its provisions.
“We have been working with the Legislature for many years to create a regulatory structure for iPoker, an online version of a game that is already authorized in the California Penal Code,” the letter notes.
“We look forward to your support of moving AB 2863.”
The letter, festooned with the logos of the supporting groups, carries the signatures of representatives of the following organisations and companies:
Pokerstars
Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians
United Auburn Indian Community
Pala Band of Mission Indians
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
Morongo Band of Mission Indians
Commerce Casino
Hawaiian Gardens Casino
The Bicycle Hotel & Casino
Thoroughbred Owners of California
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
California Thoroughbred Breeders Association
The Jockeys Guild
California Authority of Racing Fairs
California Teamsters
California Thoroughbred Trainers
Los Alamitos Racing Association
SEIU California
Western Fairs Association
California Fairs Alliance
Lake Elsinore Casino