The influential Poker Players Alliance has put its support behind attempts by Pokerstars to oppose the inclusion of “bad actor” language in any intrastate online poker legalisation bills that may be presented to California legislators.
The Alliance has made available the results of a survey that shows most Californian online poker players surveyed are supportive of the world’s largest and most reputable online poker provider being permitted to licence in California.
The results come at an opportune time as some tribal groups clearly concerned at the competitive impact of Pokerstars in an evolving internet poker sector push for bad actor clauses in legislation that would effectively exclude the Isle of Man company from participating in what is believed to be a substantial market.
Other tribes, and commercial cardrooms, have embraced the idea of a Pokerstars presence and have allied themselves with the online poker giant (see previous reports).
The PPA survey polled 1,200 individuals, with 82 percent of them having a favourable perception of Pokerstarsin terms of integrity and efficiency. Only 2 percent disagreed with that opinion, whilst 16 percent were neutral.
Importantly, Pokerstars cleared impressed US player when it was active in the States…84 percent of respondents said they thought the company treated its players well and witrh respect.
The key question of whether Pokerstars should be permitted to apply and be considered for licensing in California elicited an overwhelming 95 percent response that it should be licensed when and if online poker is legalised and regulated in California. The respondents indicated a desire to play on a California-regulated Pokerstars site.
The California results gel with those from a similar survey carried out by the PPA among its members in New Jersey, where 94 percent said they did not support last year’s attempt by the American Gaming Association to block Pokerstars’ application for licensing through its failed partnership with the Atlantic Club.
It has to be noted, however, that Pokerstars is believed to be a supporter of the PPA.