CALIFORNIA Maybe the most divided state (with the possible exception of Washington, D.C.) in the online gaming fight is California. In the last legislative session, two compet- ing online poker bills fought for attention, with neither bill prevailing. Supporters of the bills included some of the state’s Indian tribes that operate casinos and the state’s legal card rooms. State Senator Rod Wright, a sponsor of one of the bills, told Global Gaming
Business that there will be no competing bills during this year’s legislative sessions. “Both sides are talking,” he said during a break
in the National Conference of Legislators from Gam- ing States, held in Las Vegas in December. “No one wants the discord that we endured last year, so we’re going to meet in the middle and propose a bill that can get passed and signed into law.” That would mean that Governor Jerry Brown
would have to get on board, however. Brown has not indicated whether he would sign an online poker bill or not, but has gone on record as saying he doesn’t see it benefiting the state one way or another. Tribes in California are still divided, however.
The California Online Poker Association, a coalition of 29 tribes and 30 card rooms, supports the idea of online poker, but the California Tribal Business Al- liance, which includes the Lytton Band of Pomo In- dians, owners of the San Pablo Lytton Casino; the Pala Band of Mission Indians, with a northern San Diego County casino resort; and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, who have the Rolling Hills Casino in Tehama County, oppose any introduction of online gaming in California.
IOWA While Iowa flirted with consideration of an online poker bill last year, the legislature punted the ball to the Iowa Gaming Commission, which was tasked with studying the issue. Now the issue is back with Democrat state Sena-
tor Jeff Danielson, the chairman of the Iowa Senate’s State Government Committee, ready to introduce a bill that would legalize online poker. “I think it’s an opportunity to capture some
funding, if you can legalize it, for the state to capture the revenue,” he said. “I think people are doing it anyway.” Danielson says Iowa residents annually spend
more than $100 million playing online poker and he believes that money can be funneled into legal opera- tions that will aid the state. At the same time, Danielson says it’s really not
about the money. “I don’t give two hoots about the revenue for the
state. Absolutely not,” Danielson said. “I’m sorry. We’re in the black. We have a surplus. There’s zero evidence. I don’t think that’s the reason to do this.”
CONNECTICUT Governor Dannel P. Malloy is taking steps to protect Connecticut’s gaming in- dustry by exploring the prospect of online gambling. Malloy has been in talks with tribal officials from the state’s two casinos, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, as well as representatives of the Connecticut Lottery, on creating a comprehensive strategy to face the mounting competition. Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, chairman of the Mohegan Tribe, wants the gov- ernor to allow the tribes to take charge of Connecticut’s online enterprise. It’s also
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rmclegal.com www.ggbmagazine.com • March 2012 55
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