Poker News – California Assemblyman Isadore Hall told Tribal leaders and gaming interests at Thursday’s iGaming Legislative Symposium in Sacramento that he believes there is still a chance for Internet poker legislation to pass in the Golden State during 2014.

He also indicated that the Assembly would be holding an informational hearing on the issue in the next few weeks. Hall, who was the keynote speaker to open the event, serves as chair of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, which includes gambling-related concerns.

Two poker-only bills were introduced in the California legislature last week at the deadline to submit new legislation for the year: SB 1366, introduced by State Sen. Lou Correa, and AB 2291, introduced by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer. Currently, AB 2291 has its tribal supporters, including the influential Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, and the Correa bill is being pushed by another group of tribes, including the powerful San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Pechanga.Net and Spectrum Gaming Group organized and produced the symposium.

It’s going to take the tribes uniting behind one bill before legislation will move forward.

Bo Mazzetti, chairman of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, said he thinks the tribes in California are 99% in agreement on the details of a bill and just have a few minor things to work out.

“I’m quite happy that we’re all coming together,” Mazzetti said. “We’re in different camps but we’re getting to the big main camp together.”

The tribes have met three times in the past six weeks and are planning another meeting for mid-March.

Mark Macarro, chairman of Pechanga, didn’t seem as optimistic about how close the tribes are to an agreement or of the potential for Internet poker all together.

“The revenue stream that our brick and mortar casinos represent, it’s hard to truly emphasize how key that is,” Macarro said. “All my remarks are prefaced by concerns about anything that can destabilize something that’s working right now.
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