AGA Gets Support Against Pokerstarsa

Saturday March 9,2013 : UNLIKELY ALLY FOR A.G.A. POSITION ON POKERSTARS (Update)
 
California Tribal Business Alliance supports AGA's "bad actor" stance
 
A Californian tribal casino operator trade association, the California Tribal Business Alliance, has come out in support of the American Gaming Association's attack on the proposed acquisition of the Atlantic Club land casino in New Jersey by Pokerstars parent The Rational Group.
 
A spokesman for the Alliance, and for the Pala tribe, made the unsubstantiated claim this week that New Jersey "…appears to be weakening the eligibility requirements needed to obtain a gaming license.”
 
He said that his organisations believed in the imposition of "bad actor" clauses in any legalization initiatives – a reference to provisions that exclude any companies that may have in the past acted in defiance of US laws in offering online gambling for Americans.
 
The spokesman also flagged the opposition of the Alliance to interstate online poker compacts that sought to share the populous Californian player pool with other states that have legalised online poker.
 
With 39 million residents, California would make a tempting target for other states seeking better player liquidity.
 
For the third consecutive year Californian legislators currently have a choice of two online poker legalization bills – one from Sen. Rod Wright and one from Sen. Lou Correa.  Thus far, neither bill has attracted the support of the Alliance.
 
Tribal casino interests have in the past played a significant role in Californian gambling legislative developments.