Poker Player Alliance opposed amendments in California bill

Along with a coalition formed by PokerStars, the Alliance is trying to legalise online poker in California.

US.- The biggest online poker website in the world, PokerStars, formed a coalition consisting of two tribal groups, the Bicycle Casino, the Hawaiian Gardens Casino and the Commerce Casino to push for the legalisation of online poker in California. This coalition received support from the Poker Player Alliance (PPA) and made significant progress in pushing the bill through the Assembly.

Despite having plenty of support from different groups, the bill was opposed by a tribal coalition that wants PokerStars banned in California due to the fact that the company functioned in the state as a grey listed operator.

The initial proposition consisted of imposing a US$20 million fine and allowing the company to operate, but the coalition wanted to ban PokerStars for the next five years and Assemblyman Gray decided to accept the coalition’s request. The Poker Player Alliance expressed its disappointment over the decision and stated that when they look at the proposed amendments they find that the five year ban actually works out to a lifetime ban. Both groups stated that if the Assemblyman decided to include the amendments in the bill, they would oppose it as the amendments were violating a number of serious constitutional issues.

John Pappas, Executive Director of the PPA, said: “We are deeply disappointed that Gray has chosen to play politics at the behest of special interests. The proposed amendments threaten to doom the online Poker legislation for which we and our members have advocated for years.” Gaming analysts estimate that the online Poker market in California will generate around US$400 million each year.