No Online Gambling this Year in California

According to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, online gambling in California is dead until 2012. This comes as a major disappointment to two Southern California tribes who have spent the better part of this year lobbying for the proposals that where on the table there.

This news come on the way of a letter sent from Steinberg to representatives of tribes, card rooms, horse tracks, online poker groups and others who have showed interest. Steinberg admitted that the “concept of bringing intrastate gaming to California has merit and is worth pursing in a smart, methodical way.”

As far as voting for any of the proposed bills already in the California legislature, Steinberg stated that there are “significant, unresolved issues” making it unwise to vote when the legislature year ends Sept. 9th.

“We believe that well thought out, fair solutions to these differences can be reached, but not before the end of the legislative year on September 9th when Interim Study Recess is scheduled to begin”, Steinberg said in the letter, “Rushing to meet a legislative deadline on an issue of such significance for our state and our people would be unwise”.

Steinberg added that there has been huge strides in intrastate gambling and believes that “an objective proposal will be developed” in time for consideration in 2012.

Read the full letter

Author: GamesAndCasino