SB 678 online poker legalization cancelled

Thursday August 22,2013 : CORREA ONLINE POKER BILL SHELVED (Update)
 
Days after being converted to an "urgent" bill, legalization drive reportedly shelved until 2014
 
California Senator Lou Correa's SB 678 online poker legalization measure is doomed for this year, according to a tweet from the Poker Players Alliance Wednesday.
 
The news comes just days after the bill, introduced in March this year, was upgraded to "urgent" status with just three weeks remaining of the current Californian legislative season
 
The PPA tweet advised: "Update CA: sources confirm that amended Correa bill will not be brought up b4 end of session. Work on iPoker to continue over Fall recess."
 
Correa's controversial bill calls for the Californian online poker market to be dominated by existing tribal gambling and land cardroom interests. To achieve passage under urgency conditions, the bill would have had to secure a two-thirds majority in both the state Senate and the House.
 
There are two other legalization possibilities in the populous state; one more open proposal already introduced by Sen. Rod Wright, who heads the legislature's gaming committee, and a measure that has not yet been introduced but is reportedly under active discussion by a number of tribes.
 
California lawmakers take a break from September 13 2013, returning to the grindstone on January 6, 2014.