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Sep 24th 2010
As if there aren’t already enough big decisions to be made in the world of online poker, there’s been another one placed on the docket with a new bill that will attempt to bring online poker to California with legalized licensing by the state. SB 1485 has been put on the table which, if passed, will allow online poker operators to license their online poker rooms with the state for a period of 3 to 5 years. While the state of California is putting this bill across in hopes of making economical progress, the number of bills out there that suggest online gambling legalization just might lead to more potential progress when it comes to overall legalization and the embracing of gambling online in the US.
California’s State Department of Justice would be responsible for issuing the licensing and moderating the operations. Because California is really hoping to reduce their large state deficit, they’re hoping this will introduce more economical growth and revenue for the government. Since it’s urgent that they have greater financial means immediately, the bill has been put across as an emergency measure, meaning, if it’s passed it will be put into immediate effect. If it’s not passed as an emergency measure, but rather as a non-emergency one, it would only be put into effect in the new year, as of January 1, 2010. Whenever it is passed it may have a positive effect upon the suffering economy, and as it will be discussed at the EGR live event, it will also be an intrastate discussion topic.
The timing of this bill will also be good since the UIGEA is set to come into effect on July 1st, which means that financial institutions may no longer honor payments made to online casinos or gambling establishments from US players. Although this would not have a bearing on the economy in the US since currently, no sites are legally licensed to operate, it could have an impact of how online gambling is perceived in the country.
California flirted with the idea of legalizing online poker in the state once before, however; there was a tribal dispute when it was suggested by the Morongo tribe, as others featured there would be a poker monopoly. As a result, no real progress was ever made in this regard.
Hopefully, with these suggestions, online gambling in the US might make an appearance to remain!
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