CNIGA and Pala Tribes Support California Online Poker Bill
Tuesday February 23,2016 : MORE TRIBES COME FORWARD IN SUPPORT OF NEW CALIFORNIA ONLINE POKER BILL (Update)
CNIGA and Pala band in favour of Asemblyman Adam Gray's AB2863
California Assemblyman Adam Gray's new online poker legalization bill AB2863 has received more tribal support, this time from the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association.
The tribal organisations join as early supporters the Rincon Band of Lusiteno Indians, who publicised their approval of the bill and Gray's efforts immediately after he launched the measure in the California Assembly late last Friday.
In a presser issued Monday the Pala Band observed that AB 2863 bridges the gaps of California's gaming stakeholders and positions the State Legislature to conclude a bill that will bring the game of poker into the online world. The Pala pledged to continue to work with Assemblyman Gray, the Legislature and other stakeholders to assist in the passage of Internet poker legalization.
"The conclusion of Internet Poker legalization will bring a number of benefits to the State of California," said Robert Smith, chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. "Those benefits would include: a regulated online gaming market that would ensure consumer interests are protected; the creation of jobs that will come with the introduction of a new gaming product and a number of new sources of revenue."
The Pala Band has already entered the online gambling sector in New Jersey through a venture between its Pala Interactive (headed by former Bwin.Party executive Jim Ryan), the Marina District Development Company LLC, and the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa,
Over at the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) chairman Steve Stallings issued a statement saying that Gray's bill meets the organisation's principles concerning consumer safeguards, protecting children and preserving tribal sovereignty, and expressing support for AB2863.
"We are supportive of Assemblyman Adam Gray's efforts to allow gaming Tribes the option to adapt to the changing technology," Stallings said, adding that his group looks forward to working with the state legislature to ensure that meaningful legalization is passed.
Support is also likely to come from the coalition formed by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California’s three largest card clubs – the Commerce Club, the Hawaiian Gardens Casino and the Bicycle Casino – and the Amaya Gaming Group, parent of Pokerstars.
However, the influential Pechanga tribal grouping appears to remain opposed, insisting on a bad actor clause that could exclude Pokerstars from the market.
