The chief tribal opponents of current online poker legislative proposals in California have resorted to a resident telephone poll in their latest attack, hiring an independent firm which delivered the sort of results they presumably wanted.
The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Barona Band of Mission Indians and the Lytton Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians commissioned Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates to conduct the poll, which was publicised by the Los Angeles Times Monday..
There is at present no information on who was polled, the manner in which the questions were framed, the size of the sample or the methodology but the results claim to show that the majority of respondents oppose legalisation.
The first phase of the poll sought opinions prior to exposing the respondents to arguments for and against legalisation, and 52 percent of likely voters opposed allowing online poker games in the state.
When those surveyed were told that Internet poker is currently illegal in the state but thousands of people still play ‘without consumer protection’, 41 percent supported legalisation and 51 percent opposed it.
Some 74 percent of voters agreed that foreign websites that violated federal law by accepting U.S. users should be disqualified from getting a licence in California should legalisation take place…that’s one of the main objections of the Pechanga alliance of tribes, who are concerned that Pokerstars may enter the market in the event of legalisation..
Pechanga Tribal chairman Mark Macarro commented on the results Monday, noting:
“Voters are clearly skeptical about legalizing online poker. Even more toxic are provisions that would grant a license to foreign websites that illegally took bets from Californians in violation of federal law.”
The survey was released two days before an Assembly fiscal committee is scheduled to consider the bill.