SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- We have new information and a follow-up to a Center for Investigative Action story. On Friday, The California Online Poker Association said it's closing up shop. The group said after spending more than two years and $1 million to try and pass a bill legalizing online poker in California, it's done trying.
As we told you last year, the group estimated online poker would generate more than $1.4 billion in 10 years and create 1,100 new jobs. The group said passing this bill became impossible.
So we looked into what's next and if this means online poker still has a chance in California. The California Online Poker's Association also known as COPA said due to insufficient progress within the states legislature to pass an online poker bill, its over. The group was made up of several Native American tribes, card rooms and gambling groups led by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. The intention was to legalize online poker and keep the billions of dollars from the California online poker market in the state. COPA says right now, 60% of online players are from California and play on off-shore, unregulated, fraudulent websites.
Last year, we interviewed Reverend James Butler, the director of the California Coalition Against the Expansion of Gambling. We talked with him again today and he said he was happy to hear about the groups break up, stemming from rumors of in-fighting among the coalition. "An increase in gambling results in an increase in crime, an increase in unemployment, an increase in welfare," said Butler.
Butler knows the issue isn't gone for good especially with the opportunity for that much revenue. Butler expects to see a new bill in favor of online gambling some time next year. "The tribes are still here, the card rooms are still here, the horse racing is still here, the poker players association is still here," said Butler.
