California’s online gambling legislation has been a hot topic for Online Casinos Pro, as we fully supported the initiative. However, the bill was rejected after Senator Roderick Wight cancelled the Senate Governmental Organization Committee’s vote.
While online gambling legislation in California generate a great deal of much-needed revenue for the state, the bill met with a great deal of opposition – mainly from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. Their main complaint was that the bill allowed California residents to play at offshore poker sites, which would overshadow locally-based online gambling operations.
While the Morongo Band seems to have the best interests of the state at heart, many people believe that they are more concerned that they will not be able to monopolize California’s market.
With these issues at the heart of the rejection, it seems that California should take a cue from New Jersey’s online gambling legislation. In New Jersey, the legislative bill keeps all online gambling activity within the state. This means that New Jersey residents will be permitted to gamble online, but only with Atlantic City casinos. If California hopes to have its bill approved, this would be a wise amendment to make.
The bill can be amended, but the deadline for all changes is on Friday. Senator Roderick Wright acknowledges that changes need to be made, but it is not clear whether he will have the bill amended in time to meet the deadline.
