Given the competing interests in California, several observers gave the Golden State only a 50/50 chance that either of its bills will become law this year. It’s a question of how do the tribes in California fit into the puzzle,” said Lee Acebedo, executive director of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. While Pala is considered among the most aggressive on the topic, many other tribes are eager to play a hand in online poker. A spokesman for the tribe declined comment for this article. The Pala Band of Mission Indians, based in North San Diego County, established an Internet poker website for New Jersey residents last fall, becoming the first tribe to break into the online gaming market. Several other states, including Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts and Texas, have considered but not approved online poker proposals. Since then, Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have all approved rules allowing their residents to play on state-regulated poker sites.

That allowed states to decide whether to legalize the practice within their borders. Justice Department reversed a 2006 federal ban on Internet gambling. That’s a huge market that we’re all losing out on,” said Cody Martinez, chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, which operates Sycuan Casino east of El Cajon. Hundreds of millions of dollars are leaving the state. “This discussion has been going on for six years.

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