Could regulated mobile poker be coming to California?

Discussion in 'Android Poker Apps' started by Sebastian, Dec 3, 2014.

  1. Sebastian

    Sebastian Administrator Staff Member

    Following hot on the heels of states like New Jersey and Nevada, California could soon become the latest state to legalise online poker within its borders. Assemblyman Mike Gatto has put forward a bill entitled AB 9 which would create the legal framework to allow real money online poker to be introduced to the state of California. Gatto is making the argument that Californian citizens are already playing poker on their desktops and mobile devices so it makes sense to regulate the industry so they can start collecting much needed tax dollars. Online poker licenses will only be granted to tribal card room and casino operators.

    The new legislation would also include a "Bad Actor" clause that would prohibit poker rooms that were involved in US facing poker sites after December 21, 2006 from being granted a license. This is bad new for major poker brands like PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker as it would effectively shut them out of the californian online poker market for the foreseeable future.

    Questions still remain regarding the sustainability of regulated online poker in the United States following a rather disappointing performances of regulated poker rooms in states like New Jersey.
     
  2. Sebastian

    Sebastian Administrator Staff Member

    PokerStars have issued a statement following the unveiling of a new online poker bill in California that would regulate the industry but exclude poker rooms such as PokerStars. PokerStars are understandably angry, stating that they are working with legislators in California to introduce legislation in 2015 that would give Californians the "a vibrant, competitive marketplace". They say that they will oppose bill that seeks to give a competitive advantage to certain parties.
     
  3. Sebastian

    Sebastian Administrator Staff Member

    Even if California legalises online poker, there is no guarantee that it will be a success in the State. For instance, New Jersey has the most liberal online gambling laws in the US, yet online poker rooms have still struggled to make a success of it there. Legal poker rooms like 888 have struggled due to a small player pool and low credit card acceptance rates. As a result, poker players in New Jersey and Nevada have continues to play at off-shore poker rooms like Bovada and CarbonPoker.

    You can find a full list of all the US-friendly iOS and Android poker sites on our poke page http://www.androidbettingapps.com/poker.html
     
  4. Sebastian

    Sebastian Administrator Staff Member

    PokerStars expect to launch their poker app in New Jersey by the end of August this year (2015), which is a major development because PokerStars have the resources to lobby other states to also legalize internet poker.
     
  5. Chelsea

    Chelsea New Member

    I recently started playing bitcoin poker because it guarantees total anonymity and deposits and withdrawals are pretty much straightaway. I can see more and more players in the United States turning their backs on conventional online poker rooms in favor of bitcoin poker sites.
     
  6. Donald

    Donald Member

    If the Republicans win the general election again in 2015 then online gambling will probably suffer in the USA. I don't think online poker or any kind of gambling will be legalized in California anytime soon.
     
  7. Umair

    Umair New Member

    if online poker is legalized in California it will still suck because you will only be able to play poker with players from withing the state so the player pool will be too small. if you want to compete in tournaments with big prize pools you'll still need to play at one of the offshore poker sites that welcome players from the US.
     
  8. Sebastian

    Sebastian Administrator Staff Member

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