No Californian poker bill until January
Posted by Sarah Banks on 16 Sep 2009 at 15:09
A Californian bill permitting intrastate online poker will now not appear until January next year after the tribe heading up the proposal withdrew it in the face of strong opposition from other groups.
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians had been looking for a sponsor for a draft bill to draw up a centralised online poker website for customers within California's borders.
But the group announced that the proposal had been withdrawn after tribes including Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians opposed it.
Also in opposition were the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the Pechenga Band of Mission Indians.
Critics of the move had also published results of a poll demonstrating 61 per cent of more than 800 Californiaan voters were against permitting internet poker.
Morongo spokesman Patrick Dorinson told California newspaper The Desert Sun: "In our consultations with other tribes, some concerns have been raised, and we want to make sure we address those concerns so this can benefit everyone."
"We are going to redouble our efforts, and present this in January to the legislature."
California Senate leader Darrell Steinberg had already warned that it was unlikely the bill could get through before the end of the legislative year due to time constraints which would limit the debate on the issue.
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