The re-introduction of Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer’s AB167 Internet Consumer Protection Act of 2015 seeking to regulate and licence online poker in California (see previous report) has been welcomed by the coalition of Pokerstars and tribal and card room groups in the Golden State.
The alliance consists of Pokerstars and Full Tilt, along with the San Manuel and Morongo tribes, and the Commerce, Hawaiian Gardens and Bicycle cardrooms.
AB167 has found favour because it does not appear to insist on the controversial and exclusive “bad actor” clause, and includes possibilities for the state’s horse racing industry. As such, it “…will move the discussion of online poker forward in a positive direction,” the alliance opined in a statement, which also commented:
“We applaud Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer for his thoughtful approach to iPoker legislation in California which takes into account many years of input from stakeholders on all sides.”
The coalition has previously been critical of another bill introduced in California by Assemblyman Mike Gatto, which included the offending clauses, denouncing his AB9 bill as “…a rehash of previously unsuccessful proposals.”