Legal California Online Poker Rooms

California, already a trendsetter in many ways, is slated to hold legislative hearings in February on the benefit of regulating online poker rooms.

State Sen. Roderick Wright (D) told the LA Times newspaper last week that hearings will be held in February in the state legislature.

At least one of Wright’s fellow legislators is already on board saying it would be a great new potential revenue.

In a cash-strapped state like California, regulating online poker rooms could be a boon to the state budget. Though lawmakers aren’t talking (and numbers are hard to determine without further study, they note), the LA times suggested that if the state runs the online poker rooms in the same fashion it does the Indian casinos, the state could benefit by more than $250 each year.

The Commerce Casino and Morongo Band of Mission Indians are both behind the hearings and possible legislation. Both groups are planning to operate online poker rooms if the state manages to pass legislation.

Not all Indian gaming groups are behind hearings and possible legislation, however. They are worried it could take business away from brick and morter casinos.
If California passes legislation, it would be the first state to regulate and legalize online poker.