Calshark Closes Following COPA Collapse

Thursday November 8,2012 : CALSHARK CLOSES FOLLOWING COPA COLLAPSE
 
Dissension among tribal groups led to dissolution of online poker legalization alliance
 
The sudden collapse of the tribal group and card room internet poker legalization alliance COPA earlier this month has led to the closure of COPA's play-for-fun online poker website Calshark.
 
The site which was created as part of a deal between COPA and online-poker software provider Playtech in anticipation of California legalization informed its members of its closure this week in an e-mail that reads:
 
"We hope you have enjoyed the competition and state-of-the-art experience offered by CalShark.com, which has consistently provided players with the thrill of playing live poker on their personal computers.
 
“CalShark.com was launched by the California Online Poker Association (COPA) and dedicated to providing players with the highest-quality play-for-free experience available online. Our goal was to seamlessly transition CalShark.com to live, real-money play after online poker was legalized in California.
   
"Unfortunately, despite more than three years of effort, the State Legislature has not acted on Internet poker legalization and COPA has decided to dissolve. As a result, CalShark.Com will be closing immediately. COPA and the staff at CalShark.com deeply appreciate your support, and we hope you enjoyed your time on our site.  If the situation changes, we'll let you know.
 
"Meanwhile, we hope you will continue to encourage Calif. Senators Rod Wright and Darrell Steinberg to pass a bill that will allow California's trusted poker operators — tribal governments and licensed card clubs — to offer intrastate on-line poker in a way that protects the rights and interests of Californians who want to play poker on-line and also helps the State budget."