PokerStars, the biggest online poker website in the world was banned from operating in the United States after the infamous Black Friday. Now that Canadian based Amaya Gaming has acquired PokerStars, the company is looking to break into the U.S. market once again.
PokerStars is actively campaigning for online gambling to be legalized in California as the state currently debates over gambling legislation. PokerStars has joined forces with three card rooms in Los Angeles and two Indian tribes to launch www.californians4ipoker.com. The new website which is campaigning for fair gaming legislation in California is also going to promote a special Let California Play! PokerStars Pro Tour.
A number of cardrooms in California will collaborate with PokerStars to host a number of special live poker tournaments that will look to promote online poker and push for the legalization of online poker in California. The Let California Play! PokerStars Pro Tour will receive full support from Team PokerStars Pro as some of the biggest names in the poker industry will rally behind the event with an intention to highlight fact that the online poker industry will greatly benefit brick & mortar casinos and Californians.
Chris Moneymaker, Jason Somerville, Vanessa Selbst, Liv Boeree and Daniel Negreanu who are all a part of Team PokerStars Pro will make their presence felt during the Let California Play! PokerStars Pro Tour.
The tour is expected to start on the 17th of July and go right into the summer. The first three events will take place on the 17th of July at the Palomar Card Club, San Diego; the second on the 18th of July at the Lake Elsinore Casino, Lake Elsinore and the third on the 19th of July at the Seven Mile Casino, Chula Vista. To find out more information and see a full schedule of events, please go to the www.californians4ipoker.com
However, just as PokerStars looks to start its Let California Play campaign, Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) who introduced an online poker bill for approval in December 2014 has decided to withdraw his bill for now.
In a statement, Gatto said
Over the past three years, I have met with representatives from nearly every software provider, card room, gaming tribe, racetrack, and internet-poker operator who has an opinion on the subject. I gave my word to both supporters and opponents of AB 9 that my goal was consensus, and that I would not move forward with anything that achieved less than that. I will continue working to craft legislation on which the interested parties can agree, and which is good for the people and treasury of the state of California.
