California is one of the states that is actively making efforts to legalize state licensed online gambling in their state. While there is a lot of support for this venture, there is also a lot of opposition as well. As the battle wagers and all parties attempt to define California gambling laws, several proponents of moving forward with online poker specifically have arranged a one day conference that features panel discussions, expert speakers, and educational materials, all designed to provide a glimpse into the future of state regulated online poker opportunities in the Golden State.
The conference is being sponsored by multiple parties, including The California Endowment, the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, Poker Stars, Churchill Downs, GTECH, and California Center for Civic Participation, among several others. The sponsors represent a diverse segment of the California gambling population, with diversity always being a positive contribution to any cause. The conference takes place May 22, 2014, and is open to the public with a registration fee of $199.00 that includes both lunch and materials.
The five panel discussions cover the following topics: Fiscal Impact, Technology and Security, Tribal Perspectives, Regulation and The Politics. As of this writing, there were 16 confirmed expert speakers that each will bring a different perspective to the table. There is likely to be some debate during the panels as some of these expert perspectives will not align with each other.
The panels may also address the language concerning the ‘bad actor’ clause which would effectively eliminate Poker Stars as a participant in the California online poker industry. These types of discussions are necessary to the process not only to raise awareness of specific points, benefits and risks of the online poker industry and to hammer out issues before they occur, but also to create a cohesive, united front moving forward that works together to accomplish the will of the people.
This is a strong exercise in state’s rights, and achieving a decision one way or the other will strengthen the freedom and rights of each state to determine their own destiny not only concerning online gambling, but other critical issues moving forward. This is something which is crucial in today’s political climate that leans towards a ‘big government ‘approach to lawmaking.
All sides of the discussion are well represented at the conference, including California Indian Casinos, and other industry professionals, and it legitimately seems to be an authentic effort to get everyone engaged, including the general public. A well educated public will result in informed voters, which is the optimal scenario for any group that wants to initiate or stop any particular legislative action.
Providing the public with accurate information will allow them to determine how they want to weigh in on the issue and put thoughtful consideration into how they will vote should it come before a public vote. If it will be a state legislature vote only, it will allow residents the opportunity to contact their representatives and knowledgeably express how they want to be represented in the senate or house vote.
We applaud the sponsors and organizers of this conference and consider it to be a step in the right direction, regardless of the outcome of efforts to launch online poker in the state of California. You can get full details on the event by visiting here: California Online Gaming Conference Details.