California Poker Body Dissolving

CALIFORNIA POKER BODY TO DISSOLVE?
 
COPA was a collaboration between some US tribal groups and California card rooms
 
Readers following the long-running and often complicated attempts by rival groups to grab the high ground in the struggle for online poker legalization in California  will be familiar with the California Online Poker Association, a trade group comprising California Indian tribes and commercial card rooms in the state which appeared to have ambitions to corner that potentially very lucrative market by influencing lawmakers.
 
Particularly strong – and vociferous – tribal groups among the 30 or so Indian members of COPA were the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians, both of which have reportedly left the alliance, leaving smaller tribal members with little option but to vote to dissolve the organisation.
 
According to exchanges on the social media site Twitter, the implosion was no sudden thing, although the reasons for it were not entirely clear when InfoPowa went to press Thursday.
 
One tweet claimed that the smaller tribes were taken by surprise by the Morongo and San Manuel decisions, whilst another intriguingly boasted:
 
"Deader than a door nail. I've known about San Manuel since G2E. Morongo's departure was predictable."
 
Yet another tweet informed: "One of my clients pointed out COPA let their domain expire yesterday," perhaps indicating a lack of interest at the alliance.
 
The California initiative to legalise and regulate intrastate online poker bogged down yet again this year amid tribal and political rivalries, and remains pretty much in limbo.
 
COPA was a strong supporter of state Sen. Lou Correa's SB40, which many observers felt provided the best opportunity for the alliance to get a controlling grip on the business