California Looking at Legalised Online Poker

California may be inching closer and closer to legalized online poker. This would make California the very first state to have legalized online gambling. A bill has been drafted called the California Online Poker Law Enforcement Compliance and Consumer Protection Act and if it is accepted it would allow legalized and regulated online poker within the borders of the state of California.

Former attempts to accomplish this have been attempted by former Assemblyman Lloyd Levine who was trying to over turn the law based on the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This has led to California making an attempt to change the law and to legalize online poker. A portion of the bill was submitted in 2009 and argues that there are billions of dollars spent annually on online gambling which is currently going offshore when it could very much be used at home.

California has regulated and established legal live poker games but has yet failed to enforce any regulations for online gamers. The state of California does have some thoughts on this matter...California believes that sites that become licensed should offer the same poker games that are available in brick and mortar casinos so that they can be better protected in a licensed and regulated environment. As a result...only those who are currently licensed by the State of California would be able to attain online gaming licenses.

Further...the Gambling Control Commission and the Bureau of Gambling Control within the Department of Justice will be in charge of assembling a structure for regulation and licensing of intrastate poker and must make sure that it complies with the guidelines of the UIGEA. One important factor will be that all licensed establishments and the players of these establishments are all located in California. They must also organize all guidelines addressing underage gambling, compulsive gambling, and ensuring there are no oversights on the part of law enforcement officials.