California Newspaper Supports Online Poker Bill

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As different groups take sides on California’s effort to create an intrastate online poker network, the Monterey County Herald has taken a position favoring the movement to legalize, tax and run an online poker network within the state.

Posted in an editorial on its website, the Herald draws a comparison to statewide efforts to legalize both marijuana and online poker. The Herald states, “We have not studied the pros and cons thoroughly enough to weigh in on the marijuana question, but we do support the legislation that would establish a state-controlled Internet poker operation.”

Citing that an estimated 2 million California residents play Internet poker at sites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, the Herald points out that legislation would serve a number of benefits for residents. By having an intrastate operation, the state would be better equipped to monitor the integrity of the games, ensuring that operators do not cheat the players. In addition, the state could make sure that players receive their payouts quickly and accurately.

Another benefit is the tax money that would be generated. The Herald states, “[Player protection] controls are key to our support, and so is the plan to tax the flow of money. The best guess is that it would bring in about $500 million annually; not nearly enough to balance the books, but nothing to sneeze at in a state that is severely overextended.”

Taking the opposite approach of the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Monterey County Herald is supporting the legalization of online poker. It is likely that other groups will take positions as the bill moves toward a vote.