In what’s being seen as another positive step towards the regulation of online poker in California, the PokerStars Coalition has launched a new website, Californians4ipoker.com. Officially known as Californians for Responsible iPoker, the group’s purpose is to educate residents of the Golden State as to the need for internet poker regulations that will protect players, support local business and boost the state’s economy.
Californians for Responsible iPoker is a joint collaboration led by Amaya Gaming and its 5 PokerStars Coalition members. Two influential California tribes are involved; the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The coalition also has the support of the state’s three largest commercial card rooms, Bicycle Casino, Commerce Casino and Hawaiian Gardens.
“Today, millions of California poker players cannot play the game we love online, while other states and dozens of countries have authorized iPoker,” reads the mission statement on Californians4ipoker.com.
“Authorizing a well-regulated iPoker market in California will protect the state’s poker-playing consumers, support local business, and generate both jobs and revenue in California.”as to the n to inform residents of the Golden Stateoker Coalition has launched a new website, Californians4ipoker.comt least in
Californians4ipoker.com Combats Viejas Campaign
The timing of the coalition’s launch of Californians4ipoker.com is impeccable, and surely beyond coincidence. Just a few weeks ago, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians—part of the opposing Pechanga Coalition—launched its own campaign, berating PokerStars for its involvement in Black Friday and calling them a “corrupt company” full of “scam artists” that “paid $731 million to avoid criminal conviction.”
But the majority of online poker players in California know the whole story, and continue to see PokerStars as a respected, top-tier poker site that that will bring strong competition and raise the bar of excellence for the state’s market.
Californians for Responsible iPoker encourages all internet poker players in the state to band together to advocate regulations that will protect them, promote fair competition and benefit the state as a whole. Visitors to Californias4ipoker.com can register with the website to receive updates and add their number to the masses who support PokerStars in California.
In the meantime, the group will work diligently to ensure that California implements regulation that will “establish a vibrant, competitive, fully inclusive marketplace with choices for consumers and strong consumer protections; strict oversight and regulation of operators and licensees; and a financial return for the state.”
Californians for Responsible Poker is adamant that internet poker games should be regulated in the same form as the state’s brick-and-mortar gambling facilities – “solely by the regulators, not the Legislature, and without mandating the use of exclusionary criteria that are arbitrary and likely unconstitutional.”
Furthermore, Californians4ipoker.com suggests that, “Legislation should not be used as a vehicle to limit competition, restrict consumer choice, or to provide competitive advantages to a select few.”
A brief overview of the group’s intent lists “10 Reasons We Want iPoker in California”:
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You can learn more about Californians for Responsible iPoker and register to receive regular updates on the status of online poker regulations in the state here: www.californians4ipoker.com
