So you're glad the horse tracks have been bought off with the lion's share of online revenue without their lifting a finger, but Pechanga should just go screw themselves, is that the popular position?

Because I have a hard time seeing how that rationalizes as some kind of equitable solution

Thank you for the link. It seems then that sites like Bovada etc, are "Technically" illegal as they use the percentage of the pot system up to a max about of rake?

I would agree with that although there are other legal issue that may come into play:

1. There is no express prohibition against Internet gambling in California - does a virtual simulation of a card game legally equal a card game?

2. Does the operation and play of the game take place in California, or only at the location of the game servers?

3. Does the state have the right to impose their in-state law on cross-border transactions/activities performed by out-of-state entities, or does that fall only to the purview of the federal government?

These are still largely unsettled legal questions although it would be hard for an individual to argue them once charged with a violation. As far as I know, no individual in California, or anywhere else in the U.S. for that matter, has yet been arrested, charged or indicted for just playing Internet poker on any site, foreign or domestic. That doesn't mean it won't happen, especially in a state that has implemented either in-state licensing of Internet poker or an express statutory prohibition against playing it.

Thank you for your response. This is very helpful and much appreciated!

Proposed amendments to the CA bill:
http://www.onlinepokerreport.com/209...er-amendments/

seems like an attempted end-around wrt bad actors . . . . language included but bright line is after black friday, so not applicable to pokerstars.

No way Pechanga et al will go for this, but it will be interesting to see their next maneuver.

Won't pass without the tracks, so CA is giving all it's proceeds to them. But it won't pass without Pechanga either, what is CA (or Pokerstars for that matter) willing to give them?

I don't care if it's an equitable solution or not. I just would like to see a bill passed that legalizes online poker. If you know anything about state politics in California, you know that the unions are very powerful. Making a deal to get them on board was smart.

It's possible that Pechanga might get railroaded into accepting it. I don't know how much power they have - the conventional wisdom seems to be "enough to stop a bill", but if the unions really want this (thanks to the previously mentioned handout), they may not be able to stop it.

it takes a 2/3's vote of both chambers to pass this bill. Pechanga can stop it

You might be right, but I'm not 100% convinced. It's 6 tribes. That's not an insurmountable obstacle.

The critical variable is here that Horse Racing (and by extension, the unions) really want this bill to pass. That wasn't true before.

In my e-mail today
----

Californians for Responsible iPoker,

Last year, you signed up with Californians for Responsible iPoker to help us get online poker authorized and regulated in California.

We’ve been making good progress, but we need you to help get across the finish line.

Assembly Bill 2863 by Assemblyman Adam Gray passed a key legislative committee and is up for another vote on June 15.

Please take a minute today to email or tweet a message to legislators on the Assembly Appropriations committee that you want them to pass AB 2863 next week.

The bill would create a regulated online poker market in California with strong consumer protections to ensure online poker play is fair and safe.

Taking action is quick and easy – not to mention a critically important way to let legislators know that poker-playing Californians support this bill.

Thank you for your help. We promise to keep you updated as things progress in California.

Let California Play!

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Bill up for vote this week. What are the odds that it passes?

Pretty good. It likely would have been pulled by its supporters if expected to go down to defeat. But, it's just a committee vote. As it progresses, we'll hear more from the Pechanga-Aqua Caliente faction.

Good news. CA Asm. Lorena Gonzalez is replying to us. Please take a moment to like her comment and to reply to the broader discussion, asking her to support this legislation: www.facebook.com/lorena.gonzalez.942/posts/1122476924484469

Send out the tweets everyone!

Assuming it passes, what's the next step? And is there an estimated timeline for when this bill would potentially be signed into law? Thanks.

There are so many moving parts I wouldn't even try to guess as to timing or likelihood of passage. A lot of it depends on making progress, forcing lawmakers and stakeholders to choose their sides.

The important thing here is that we all keep taking action here and in other states likely to move. Perhaps somewhat ironically, passage of poker bills in New York or PA could do as much for the CA effort as anything happening in CA right now.

It's not like the bill in its current form was forced on the Pechanga and Agua Caliente, or the CA legislature for that matter. Stars isn't quite that strong. Rather, this is simply how the alliances came together. Put in a bad actor clause and you'll likely see even more opposition from tribes.

I don't know if Pechanga and Agua Caliente can keep up their road block forever, even with the 2/3 vote threshold.

The committee held the hearing, but the vote has been postponed. Hopefully the vote will happen in a week or two.

Sorry if this has been asked--

If this bill passes this vote by the end of the month, what would be the ETA for actual launch of online poker in CA? I understand it's probably a nuanced / uncertain answer but would love to know some details.

If this bill passes this committee vote, there will not yet be an ETA for launch. A committee vote does not mean it becomes law - just that it passes on to another vote in either another committee or one of the chambers of the legislature. For it to become law, it has to pass all committee votes necessary in both chambers, and then a full floor vote in both chambers and then get signed by the governor. Once it is signed into law, it will probably be one to two years before launch.

A bill like this CAN move quickly through the process to a final vote, but that usually happens only once there is consensus among the stakeholders and legislative leaders that it is ready to be passed. This bill is still up in the air, although it is much further along on consensus than at other time in the past five years.

why did they re schedule the voting?

A couple of late amendments were introduced and not everybody had the time to absorb them.

Two amendments agreed upon are that the state takes 10% of the tax revenue if the total tax revenues fail to reach $60 million (the horseracing industry subsidy), and that half of the $12.5 million licensing fee can be offset against tax.

Other amendments propose that "bad actors" are banned from entering the market until 2021 unless they pay a $20 million fine.The Agua Caliente tribe have called this a "Get Out of Jail Free" card and have already voiced their opposition against it.

I don´t think JP´s Twitter comments did a lot towards dismantling the road block last night. Could have set regulation back years.

Care to elaborate?