Momentum to get online poker legalized and controlled inside the state of California has fallen by the wayside way to the legislative session ending Wednesday. Yet again, poker players need to wait until next year.

There was serious progress made in 2016, as California lawmakers found out how to appease the racing industry and the tribes on one front by giving the previous a virtually $60 million annual subsidy in exchange for not being eligible for online poker licenses. That deal was hashed out early within the year. California’s tracks already offer online wagering, the one type of online betting currently legal within the state.

While that matter was settled, the overall hurdle that never was cleared was the best way to craft “suitability” language for firms that facilitated online poker for Americans within the legal gray area between 2006 and 2011.

The company under fire is PokerStars, as most tribal groups, though to varying degrees, oppose the operator being involved with California. A FEW tribes partnered with PokerStars, so there has been no consensus some of the tribes on suitability. In August, Assemblymember Adam Gray, sponsor of the net poker bill, released new amendments that may put PokerStars in a so-called penalty box for a period of 5 years. However, PokerStars and its partners argued that the language could amount to an entire life ban.

Shortly after the amendments were released, the Poker Players Alliance and the PokerStars coalition switched their stance to opposing the bill.

The route to ending the stalemate in 2017 is unclear if PokerStars remains within the mix. The state’s tribal gaming industry includes roughly 60 casinos and a market worth greater than $7 billion. California is by far the nation’s largest tribal casino market.

At one point this year, there has been thinking that PokerStars receiving a license from the state of recent Jersey, and launching its product there, would help the placement in California. That didn’t turn into the case.

Assembly lawmakers were poised to carry a vote at the measure and its new amendments in late August, however the vote never happened. It was a full-court press with almost no time left. No California online poker bill has ever been voted on by the whole Assembly, though legislation successfully navigated through committee in both 2015 and 2016. There have been a few years of efforts and not using a vote happening.

The debate has dragged on for a decade, and in that point Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have all legalized and launched online gambling industries.

A vote by the Assembly wouldn’t have guaranteed anything, because the Senate would have needed to pass the measure besides. A top Senate lawmaker was quoted this summer as saying that there has been “no rush” to get online poker approved. If it made it during the Senate, the bill would have fallen under the scrutiny of the governor.

California’s online poker market have been estimated at being worth as regards to $400 million, and the proposed tax rate on that may be 10 percent. One tribal gaming insider told Card Player in early 2016 that California is solely sufficiently big for 6-10 unique operators. California Nations Indian Gaming Association Chairman Steve Stallings also said that the state has “maybe…one or two years” left of seeking to get online poker legalized. In other words, 2017 could be do or die.

“If we wish to installed place consumer protections and launch a business opportunity for California we better do it now,” Stallings said. “It might be a lost opportunity if we don’t. The eye levels and the extent of interest in poker will die off.”

Between 2009 and 2010, California players accounted for 16 percent folks.. revenue and 4 percent of globally Internet poker revenue. Gray said at a hearing this year that roughly 1,000,000 Californians still play online poker for real money.

Read More... [Source: CardPlayer Poker News]