iGaming Business – Online poker would generate $800 million (€587 million) and create more than 2,000 jobs for the Californian economy by the end of the decade, according to a new report released by Capitol Matrix Consulting.
The study found legalising Internet poker in California would result in $1.91 billion in economic output, $845 million in additional state revenue, and 2,657 jobs over the first five years.
As reported by iGaming Business, two new bills seeking to regulate online poker in the US state have recently been introduced in an effort to make California only the third state in the country to legalise some form of internet gaming.
There appears to be significant momentum building behind some form of legalisation of online gaming in California, with a recent poll suggesting locals would be in favour of the move.
“Legalising internet poker will increase California’s total economic output by more than $300 million and add more than 1,900 jobs in the first year alone,” Capitol Matrix Consulting partner Mike Genest said.
“Our estimate is based in part on our review of previous estimates of proposals to legalise internet poker and in part on new data provided by the industry experts that take into account the changes in the illegal internet poker market since ‘Black Friday’.”
