New Indian poker league formed

December 27, 2016

Following licensing and regulatory developments in the Indian provinces of Sikkim and Nagaland (see previous reports) it appears that the game of poker is gathering momentum in India, and this week saw the announcement of a new poker league featuring 12 teams of nine players each. Titled Poker Sports League, the venture is scheduled for […]

Bad news for California online poker as tribal opposition solidifies

June 11, 2016

Despite the patient efforts of Assemblyman Adam Gray in trying to broker a difficult compromise among interested parties in the California online poker legalisation issue (see previous reports), the future of his bill AB 2863 appears to be in peril again following statements by a powerful tribal allowance Friday expressing continued opposition. The sticking points […]

Pokertribe.com could soon be a reality

April 7, 2016

The Iowa tribe of Oklahoma’s long fight to be allowed to operate an international online poker site from its tribal territory appears to be reaching a successful conclusion. The Journal Record reports that the tribe and arbitrator Charles Chapel met with federal Judge David Russell this week for another discussion on the proposed PokerTribe.com venture, […]

Oklahoma arbitrator award clears the way for tribal online poker

March 18, 2016

In Oklahoma, there has been a surprise breakthrough in the bid by the Iowa tribe to set up an international online poker site outside the USA, using Universal Entertainment Group’s branding PokerTribe.com. Our readers may recall that late last year the state’s opposition to the Iowa tribe’s intentions ended up in an independent arbitration action. […]

More tribes come forward in support of new California online poker bill

February 23, 2016

California Assemblyman Adam Gray’s new online poker legalisation bill AB2863 (see previous report) has received more tribal support, this time from the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. The tribal organisations join as early supporters the Rincon Band of Lusiteno Indians, who publicised their approval of the bill and […]

California racetracks and tribal groups still miles apart on online poker

September 30, 2015

This month saw the close of another legislative session in California, still without a solution to the legalisation of online poker for the seventh or eighth year running…and racetracks and some tribal groups apparently still miles apart on agreement, casting a shadow over future possibilities. Aside from “bad actor” clauses designed to keep major competitors […]

California tribe goes on the offensive against Pokerstars

June 4, 2015

The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, a member of a strong tribal alliance seeking to dominate the debate on internet poker legalisation in California, went on the attack against Pokerstars this week in a radio advertisement that will do little to further the cause of legalisation in the state. The advertisement singles out Pokerstars and […]

Tribal gaming chief pessimistic on Californian online poker

March 17, 2015

Although calling for legalised and regulated online poker in California, the chairman of the Santa Ysabel Tribal Gaming Commission, Dave Vialpando, opined this week that it was unlikely that such a goal will be achieved in 2015, blaming the self-interest of many of the gambling groups involved. Vialpando observed in a statement: “Too many potential […]

California tribes protest internet poker bill

March 12, 2015

Disagreement over what form online poker legalisation should take in California continued this week with six tribal gambling groups expressing their opposition to Rep. Reggie Jones-Sawyer’s AB167 proposal. The first group to note their disapproval in a communication with Jones-Sawyer was the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation in San Diego, apparently acting independently. That […]

Bad actor balance shifting in California?

February 13, 2015

Bad actor clauses – usually focused on companies that continued to serve US players post-UIGEA – have divided and disrupted constructive debate on the legalisation of online poker in California for years, with some tribal groups strongly supporting the concept, and others equally vehemently opposing it. This week during the 20th Western Indian Gaming Conference […]