Online Poker Proponents Are Rooting for California
Published August 9, 2015 by Elana K
"Let California Play" is currently on tour to promote awareness for the grassroots organization, Californians for Responsible iPoker.
Last week, World Poker Tour superstars gathered together at American Canyon in Napa for an initiative called “Let California Play,” a poker tour geared towards raising awareness for the grassroots organization, Californians for Responsible iPoker.
Big shots included two-time World Poker Tour winner Daniel Negreanu, and former winner Chris Moneymaker, who rose to fame specifically through playing online poker.
Lee Jones, director of poker communications at PokerStars, said that the idea behind the tour was to inspire Californians and fellow poker-lovers to reach out to their local legislators and voice their demand for regulated online poker.
“Poker players need to make their voices heard,” said Jones. “They want to play online legally, but to do that, they need to reach out to their local lawmakers and let them know that this is something important to them.”
Chris Moneymaker also spoke out in support of online gambling. “I practice 10 to 15 hours a week to improve my game,” he said. “The game is always evolving, always changing, so you have to practice – even the pros. You have to stay sharp. Online poker is a great outlet for that. You can play in your spare time and get to know the nuances of the game.”
Does iPoker in California have a prayer?
This year saw the introduction of the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act in California, presented by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer. The bill would regulate online gambling while ensuring the protection of California players. However, there have been many obstacles and opponents, including clashes with Native American tribes, backlash from opposing politicians, and even disagreement within the pro-iPoker camp, which have made the battle an uphill one.
As of now, there are only three states in the United States that have legally regulated online gaming: Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. But with all the fanfare surrounding iPoker in California, it would not be surprising if California were to soon join their ranks.
