While the current UIGEA prohibits interstate and out of country online gambling, it also explicitly permits intrastate (within state) online poker. This opening has spurred groups in California to fight hard to get real money online poker rooms running in the state. It has even prompted previous competitors to ally together in order to tap into the lucrative market that was left behind after Black Friday. An estimated 2 million people in California alone play online poker at unregulated poker sites.
Earlier this fall the California Online Poker Association launched a free-to-play online poker room called CalShark.com to promote legalizing online poker and get a head start in the market. The COPA is a partnership of between dozens of tribes and card rooms within California, including the Commerce, Bicycle Club and Ocean’s Eleven casinos. Until now, state tribes and card rooms were often in competition with each other when it concerned matters of brick and mortar gambling. By having online sites and traffic already established, the operators hope to be able to offer real money play as soon as legislation permits.
In California this could happen as early as the first quarter of 2012, if the details of COPA sponsored Senate Bill 40 can be hammered out. The COPA and the majority of California constituents are on board. Last month a field poll showed that 53 percent of California’s voters support legalizing (and taxing) internet poker. However, non-COPA affiliated tribes and casinos have concerns that the bill could hurt business in brick and mortar casinos and give the COPA members an unfair advantage, or even an outright monopoly, in the market.
It is estimated that legalized online poker could net the cash-strapped Californian government as much as $1 billion in state revenues over a period of 10 years. An estimated 1,100 new jobs could also be created.