CNIGA 'disappointed' that Government Organization Committee has not addressed online poker issue
Immediately prior to the January 6 California Assembly Government Organisation Committee meeting on daily fantasy sports, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) issued a press release expressing disappointment that chairman Assemblyman Adam Gray had not included the legalisation of online poker in his committee's deliberations.
Steve Stallings, chairman of the trade association, commented:
"We realize there are two other bills dealing with sports betting (AB 1441) and daily fantasy sports (DFS) (AB 1437) sharing the agenda with the I-Poker bill, AB 167. Introduced by Representative Reginald Jones-Sawyer, AB 167 represents one of the last in a series of I-Poker bills, which, unlike AB 1441 and AB 1437, were thoroughly vetted, debated, altered, massaged, and continually passed over with the hope of a political miracle of consensus in the next year.
"The regulation of fantasy sports is well intended. However, the state needs to prove it can deal with one online game—I-Poker–before it takes on others."
Stallings believes the fantasy sports media blitz, followed by an impressive barrage of media coverage of the data leak and charges of insider abuses that led to federal investigations, lawsuits and costly legal challenges, prompted more political interest in protecting California's sports fantasy players than the state's online poker fans that he claims are "regularly victimized without such high-profile notoriety."
"There have been long standing divisions among the stakeholders, including tribal governments, some of which are members of CNIGA. However, I believe, the Jones-Sawyer bill opens the door to compromises that can finally bring the majority together. We were excruciatingly close last year, and I would like to see CNIGA play a major role in helping to unify the Indian tribes on the key issues that previously divided us and take the lead in supporting a partner bill in the state Senate," Stallings said.
Stallings praised chairman Gray for his consumer advocacy. "At the December GO hearing on sports wagering and fantasy sports, Gray suggested, he wanted the state 'to lead the way in balancing consumer protection with consumer demand.'
"This is a wise and practical approach. Plus, he can meet this goal by passing I-Poker legislation this year. The goal is reasonable. The Legislature knows the demand is there. They know the play is happening. They also know California online poker players are currently sitting ducks, vulnerable to all manner of schemes to steal their money," Stallings added.
"The computer age is here and so is internet gambling, along with its opportunities and dangers. To continue to do nothing exposes the state's citizens to the type of criminal and backroom activities reminiscent of the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920-'30s. We all know how well that worked.
"Our state needs to join the digital age and meet its responsibilities to make I-Poker safe for those who wish to play it (and are forced to play it illegally, subject to fraudulent off-shore betting sites), and begin to turn some of the ill-gotten gains from the illegal operations into benefits for the state's tax payers." Stallings suggested.
The CNIGA chairman concluded by observing that iPoker "should not only be first on the GO committee's agenda, but one of the first pieces of legislation passed in 2016."
Online Casino News Courtesy of Infopowa
