AB 2863, a California intrastate online poker legalisation bill that was recently approved by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee on an 18 vs, 0 vote (see previous reports) will again be the centre of attraction on May 18, when the Assembly Appropriations Committee will hear testimony and consider the measure for further progress.
The issue is likely to attract lively debate on remaining issues from mainly tribal opponents who have demanded the inclusion of controversial and anti-competitive “bad actor” clauses in a a thinly veiled attempt to exclude Pokerstars from the market, with some reportedly still unhappy with a provision to keep the racetracks out of the market by handed them a multi-million dollar subsidy every year.
Other issues that are open to debate are the tax rate to be applied, and proposed requirements around the suitability of technology providers who would partner with state licensed entities in offering online poker.
Whether sufficient agreement can be achieved to progress the bill out of committee stage remains to be seen.