Online Poker Bill Passes First Hurdle

In America, the California Assembly Governmental Organization Committee (AGOC) unanimously passed Bill AB 2026 last week to study the possibility of offering online poker in the state.

The proposed legislation, entitled The Gambling Control/California Intrastate Online Poker Act, was introduced in February by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, Chairman of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, and will now make its way to the Assembly Appropriations Committee in advance of an eventual full vote.


According to Capitol Weekly, the Bill would empower the California State Gambling Control Commission in conjunction with the California Department of Justice to perform a study into the possibility of authorising Internet poker for California residents in accordance with the Federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which stipulates that individual states have the right to legalise and regulate intra-state online gambling.


If the Bill is approved, conducted and showed intra-state regulations were feasible, it could evolve to produce legislation up for a vote in the California Legislature as soon as June of next year.


'It would be regulated,' said Levine.


'We don't know what the state's piece will be but it will be a regulated entity.'


Levine stated that regulated California online gambling would ensure consumer protections were in place in circumstances such as recourse if a site refused to pay a customer.


Poker Voters of America has agreed to serve as the official citizen sponsors of the legislation and will work with representatives from Levine's office as well as and other State officials to expedite an agenda and timeline for consideration and passage of the Bill.

News Added: 23 April, 2008

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