Just to be clear … even with tribal casinos ready to get in on the action, California\’s efforts to create it\’s own little bubble of online poker freedom — the anti-Kentucky if you will — are done … at least for now.
According to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (who has the power to decide which bills get considered) last week:
With the state hurting for cash — and Democrats desperate for revenues to soften cuts to social service programs and schools — Steinberg said he essentially has one thing to say to proponents of online poker: Show me the money.
\”I think it is a legitimate idea for consideration,\” Steinberg said today in a press conference. \”I only have one question when I hear a proposal like that: how much money for the state General Fund? It\’s all I want to know. You know, is it two, three hundred million dollars? If it is, I\’d consider it. But I think it\’s going to take more than four weeks to analyze that kind of proposal and the potential economic benefits.\”
Fair enough … maybe next time (two years from now) … maybe not.
