Senator Rod Wright, leader of the Senate Committee with oversight for gambling, introduced the amended version of SB 1485 late on Friday. The bill proposes the state's Department of Justice award up to three five-year contracts to California-based operators to run online poker websites for state residents.
The bill, to be discussed by the US panel at this month's EGR Live event by key figures behind the intrastate initiatives in California, New Jersey and Florida, has been designated as an urgency measure. This means it would go into effect immediately upon legislative passage and signature by the Governor. A non-urgency measure would not go into effect until 1 January 2011.
This urgency status of the bill reflects California’s pressing need for tax revenues to plug its huge and growing budget deficit, set to reach to US$19bn by the end of the current financial year.
The bill, to be discussed by the US panel at this month's EGR Live event by key figures behind the intrastate initiatives in California, New Jersey and Florida, has been designated as an urgency measure. This means it would go into effect immediately upon legislative passage and signature by the Governor. A non-urgency measure would not go into effect until 1 January 2011.
This urgency status of the bill reflects California’s pressing need for tax revenues to plug its huge and growing budget deficit, set to reach to US$19bn by the end of the current financial year.