As the debate rages on the Golden State about the future of online poker, the powerful California Indian Tribal Alliance has reached consensus on the framework of a bill for the state’s General Assembly to consider.

In a letter released on Mondayaddressed to California State Senator Lou Correa and Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, the 13 members of that tribal alliance, including the powerful San Manuel Band and the Pechanga Band, announced that “for the first time in five years” the tribes had a solid agreement they could endorse for passage of online poker regulations in California.

“This journey has been long and difficult, but the challenges posed by the internet demand that we harness rather than cede the technology of the future for California and for our Tribal communities,” the opening paragraph of the letter read. Online Poker Report was the first site to report about the draft bill.

Citing the facets of online poker that would help out the state, the tribes also looked at online poker as a revenue stream while at the same time keeping out “dishonest and unsuitable operators… We… look forward to working with you and your colleagues to scrutinize this legislation and ensure our shared public policy are achieved,” the letter ended. Thirteen Tribal groups signed it.

As a part of the draft bill, there is a “bad actor” clausethat would prevent companies that serviced the United States following December 2006 from entering into the California market. If passed, the regulations would go into effect 180 days following its passage and, within a year, the first online poker rooms could open. Only California Tribal groups and “qualified card rooms” would be eligible to take part in the industry.

The bill is poker only. Potential licensees for the California online poker industry would have to pony up a $5 million initial licensing fee that would be good for ten years and those applicants would have to prove they could fully make that payment of their own volition. Taxation of the rooms would be a minimal 5% of gross revenues, there can only be two “skins” per licensee, and employees of any licensee that has “contact with players” would have to be located in the state.

The minimum age for play would be set at 21, which is the standard in previously passed legislation in other states, but another part of the bill could be harmful to California players. The proposed bill would make unlicensed online poker rooms illegal and those who play on unregulated sites would be subject to a misdemeanor charge. Players would also be subject to monetary forfeitures.

Left out of the mix of the 13 Tribal councils is one of the major players in the Indian casino gaming consortium: the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, who stunned the poker industry in announcing a deal with PokerStars during recent hearings about online poker.

Along with their potential partners in the Commerce Casino, Bicycle Casino, and Hawaiian Gardens, the Morongo Tribe could be the “thorn in the side” that prevents the movement forward of this draft due to the “bad actor” language that is present. Also not mentioned in the proposed bill is the fate of horse racing tracks that have card rooms on their properties.

PocketFives will continue to monitor the issue as new developments emerge. Visit our California poker community for the latest news and discussion from California players.

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