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With Gambling firm Amaya announcing the purchase of the world’s largest online poker room, PokerStars, earlier this month, the firm hopes to enter the California Web gambling market. Not so fast.
13 of the state’s 14 gaming tribes are determined to keep PokerStars out, citing a “bad actor” clause embedded in current legislation and pointing to the fact that Stars continued to accept customers from the US long after federal prohibition had passed in 2006. And, unlike with most states, the Tribes maintain exclusive control over gambling in California.
The tribes “are worried someone is going to come in and cut their throats during the night”, said Victor Rocha, a veteran of Indian gaming politics in California, in an interview with the Financial Times of London. “They have always been very protective of gaming because it is the only thing that has allowed them to thrive.”
PokerStars has one ace in its pocket.
The poker room has partnered with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, The Commerce, The Bike and Hawaiian Gardens, all powerhouses in the state of California.
Failure to reach a mutual agreement on this front will prevent online poker from becoming legalized in the world’s 8th largest economy.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
