Morongo Band of Indians Leads Lobby for Online Poker in CA

21 Indian tribes, led by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, joined forces to create the California Intertribal Intrastate Poker Consortium, a limited liability company to be a member of the California Online Poker Association.

As of yet, online gambling is still prohibited in California, however, as the last attempt for legalisation was a bill from Senator Roderick Wright, but he cancelled the hearing of it earlier this year. Ever since, the movement of the tribes is the first and only initiative to press for the establishment of the regulation: “While we have some disagreements with the bill, we’re hopeful that all sides can come together and do what’s best for the state,” Morongo Band spokesman Patrick Dorinson told the Capitol Weekly. He added that they were negotiating with Wright as they wished to be one of the three groups to operate a hub of online gambling in the state.

Several groups, of course, including tribes running casinos, are against the goals of the Morongo. Moreover, as far as federal regulation is concerned, even they are against it, as it would mean a strong competition to their venture. Basically, what they want is privileged licence to provide online gambling within the state of California.

However, the arguments both in favour and against are of little importance as long as the bill is stalled: “Our next step is to go through the session to see if anything will come of the Wright bill, and if not, prepare for next year.'' (MyDesert.com)