California Online Poker Bill Approved by AGOC

AB2863, the California online poker bill, received the initial approval of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee.

AB2863, which would be known as the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2016, was approved by a vote of 18-0 in the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. The online poker bill, introduced by assembly member Adam Gray, would establish clear guidelines for the authorization of online poker in California.

Licenses would be available to the federally recognized Native American tribes of California, and card rooms that were authorized for at least 5 years in the state. The internet poker rooms would be open to all citizens over the age of 21. Click here to download the full text of original California online poker bill and here to read its analysis.

One step closer to a consensus on the California online poker bill

Since 2014, online poker in California was a recurring topic in the legislature. According to US gambling news, the previous bills were dropped because of Native American interests. An anti-online gambling organization, Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, says that a California online poker bill would have negative effects on the community. Steve Stallings of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians said: