California Assemblyman Mike Gatto has announced that he is suspending his attempt to legalize and regulate online poker in the Golden State.
Gatto pulled AB9 from the California Assembly, leaving Reggie Jones-Sawyer's AB167 and Adan Gray's AB431 as the online poker bills that are still in the running for debate and voting. Gratto pulled his bill due to the fact that he was unable to find agreement among poker rooms, Indian tribes, racetracks and online gaming operators.
Commenting on the bill's suspension Gratto said, “I am canceling next week’s hearing of my Assembly Bill 9. I believe this is the right thing to do at this point because there is no consensus on the issue yet. My bill has an “urgency” clause, and thus it can be resuscitated at any time."
"Over the past three years, I have met with representatives from nearly every software provider, card room, gaming tribe, racetrack, and internet-poker operator who has an opinion on the subject. I gave my word to both supporters and opponents of AB 9 that my goal was consensus, and that I would not move forward with anything that achieved less than that."
"I will continue working to craft legislation on which the interested parties can agree, and which is good for the people and treasury of the state of California.”