Morongo Band Moves to Regulate Online Poker in California

The Los Angeles Times has recently reported that the Morongo Band of Mission Indians is making an attempt to consolidate it's efforts to get the state of California, to give them exclusivity on intrastate legalised online poker.

Earlier this year the Morongo Band representatives were at the first hearings in the Senate opposing any attempt by Barney Frank to regulate online gambling in the USA. Mr. Frank challenged their position as being one which in had selfish gain in mind. The band were opposed to regulation because they felt it would be unfair to existing gambling operations in California that provide profit to the Mission Indians.

The newspaper reported that, with the state of California in serious budget deficit a consortium that includes the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and a group of casinos is offering Californian leaders a portion of the money to be made if they allow Web based poker sites to operate legally. The newspaper reveals the importance of the online gambling market and it's money earning possibilities. Morongo spokesperson, Patrick Dorinson said the consortium proposes that the state regulate such games in California to "ensure their legitimacy and protect players privacy," and that a measure of the revenue be shared with the state.

Online gambling expert Professor I. N. Rose has advised the Commerce Casino, a card club involved with the Morongo, that California would be exempt from federal restrictions if the businesses were operated entirely within state lines and made it's product available only to citizens of California. State law in California gives Indian tribes the exclusive right to operate electronic games of chance. Attorneys for the Federal government feel different about the proposal and advise that the state lawmakers should be careful not to violate the current laws.

It is estimated that as many as four hundred different groups may apply for licences to operate internet based card games which may or may not become legal and regulated in the state of California USA.