More Casinos in California Join Commerce Casino against Legalized Online Poker
Last week we told you about the outrage amongst poker players in California over the realization that Commerce Casino, the biggest land based poker room in the US is against the legalization of online poker except for in California only. Commerce Casino management made it clear that they do not support Barney Franks H.R.2267 bill, which would legalize online gambling across the United States. Players were angry and outraged at this turn of events and so were the Poker Player Alliance who spoke out against Commerce Casino and called for players to let their voices be heard by calling the casino and showing their disappointment.
Well in another turn of events, more land based California casinos are joining in with Commerce Casino and showing their support. Some of these land-based casinos include, Bicycle Casino, Hawaiian Gardens and Hollywood Park. Commerce Casino board members Tom Malkasian & Haig Papaian have spoken out against the PPA’s criticism, which called them greedy betrayers of the poker community, and have dismissed the PPA as “one of many special interests groups receiving funds from illegal offshore gaming operators.”
Speaking with “Poker News Daily” Malkasian explained that Commerce Casino employs over 20,000 workers the California and with 70% of Californians playing poker on the internet with over $13 billion wagered annually, Commerce Casino has to protect themselves and their employees by protecting the biggest internet gaming market in the world, the USA.
He went on to say that “federal regulation of online poker is coming and we can fight to keep our players interests protected or we can allow illegal operators who are draining millions of American dollars out of our country to dominate the US market.” As of this writing the PPA has responded to Commerce Casino’s new allegations, with this statement, “The HR 2267 bill stipulates that poker companies would be required to have at least 50% of their operations within the US, and it seems pretty clear that Commerce Casinos concern is that they do not want to have to compete with other poker sites”.
Over 6000 poker players including some of the biggest names in poker have signed a petition voicing their dissatisfaction with the casino. Stay tuned for more of this battle of the poker world.
Tags: Online Poker