On July 22nd, 2008, a proposal to legalize Internet poker made its way before the Senate Governmental Organizational committee and will now be presented before the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 2008. If the proposal, AB2026 or the California Gambling Control/Intrastate Online Poker Legalization Act is approved, the residents of the state of California could play on the Internet poker as early as July 2009. Should this pass, it will be a historical event for the state of California and it could push other U.S. states to follow.
Anthony Sandstrom, a poker pro living in California, begin the petition sometime ago that would see a referendum on February, that would allow residents to decide on whether they are in favor of allowing online poker. Even though he was able to succeed in his poker petition, he withdrew it before the proposal could be placed on the ballot. He is now supporting the California Gambling Control/Intrastate Online Poker Legalization Act. Sandstrom said that he is hoping that the proposal will be approved by the legislature by the end of August and signed into law by fall.
In February, the proposal was introduced as a means to review the feasibility of Internet poker in the state of California. Since that time, widespread talks from the California legislation has modified the proposal so that it now calls for the legalization and careful regulation of Internet poker in California. Bill AB2026 is a direct result of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which gives the choice of legalizing in-state online gaming by meeting some requirements.
AB2026 was modified to answer these requirements before bringing it through the Assembly and then the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. Next month, the bill will be presented before the Senate Appropriations Committee. If AB 2026 will be approved by the committee, it will be voted for approval by a full Senate. Upon the approval of the Senate, the state of California will begin enforcing the legalization and regulation of Internet poker in California.
08/04/2008 04:33 PM