Conference on Online Gaming Aims to Articulate Future of California Online Poker

A one-day conference held by Capitol Weekly & UC Center will offer access to insights from a wide array of key players in California’s ongoing attempt to regulate online poker.

The event – titled “A Conference on Online Gaming” – is scheduled for May 22nd, 2014. Attendance is open to the public.

Complete details for the event are available here.

Confirmed speakers as of this article include:

• Jeff Grubbe, Chair of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
• Mark Macarro, Chair of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians.
• Robert Martin, Chair of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.
• Richard Lopes, Chair of the Gambling Control Commission.
• Fabian Nunez, Mercury Public Affairs.
• Michael Genest, Capitol Matrix Consulting.
• Terri Sue Canale, Office of Problem Gambling.
• Anita Lee, Legislative Analyst’s Office.
• David Quintana, California Tribal Business Alliance.
• Steve Stallings, Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians. 
• George Forman, Forman and Associates.
• Lloyd Levine, Filament Strategies.

California currently has two active bills seeking to regulate online poker. Read an excellent overview of the two bills from Chris Krafcik of GamblingCompliance.com here.

Will the bad actor battle spill over into the conference?

The presence of Chairman Macarro and Chairman Martin raises the question of whether the ongoing conflict over so-called “bad actor” provisions in California’s bills to regulated online poker will take center stage at the conference.

The topic dominated a recent Assembly hearing on online poker.

Macarro and a wide-ranging coalition of tribes support the inclusion of such clauses. Martin, along with Morongo’s cardroom allies, are pushing for the removal of bad actor language that would prohibit the entry of their recently-announced partner PokerStars.

Learn more about the Conference on Online Gaming.