The Suite Blog >> Going All-In in Cali, But Bluffing In Florida

July 6, 2009 - All this talk about Florida and California on the move to legalize online poker has got poker chips on my mind. But I have to say, despite all the hope and well wishing, I won't believe it's possible until I see it done. And by that I mean tangible legislation signed and passed into law. To quote the infamous LL Cool J, "Going back to Cali, er, Cali, er, dum, dum, dum, I'm goin' back to Cali er...Nah, I don't think so".

If I was a betting man - oh wait, I am a betting man - then I would put all my chips on California to legalize. First off, there are lots of brick 'n mortar poker rooms there to begin with. And while some exist in Florida's tribal casino gambling scene, the poker landscape in California is thriving big time. Secondly, California's budget deficit is expected to rise to something like $25 billion. It's a given that Californian's are playing poker online. And that would amount to some serious tax revenue if regulation was thrown into the mix. Third, the legislation in California specifically sets forth regulatory guidelines.

In Florida, the story plays out a little differently. The bill that Governor Charlie Crist just signed specifically sets forth guidelines to study online poker, but not necessarily regulate. You know the drill: Learn all the poker hands and how to bluff. Oh wait - not study the actual game of poker, but rather, if it can be successfully regulated. And by that, I mean how can Florida residents be protected by unregulated online poker sites. And by that, I mean....Really, how many more times can I say that!?

The Florida Senate will be taking a look at guidelines of the study as well as the prospects of actually regulating online poker come December 2009. American Poker Ventures, which lobby's on behalf of the Poker Voters of America, was chiefly responsible for drafting the bills.

By the way, on a side note, or should I say side side note, I read another article about this whole poker thing in Florida, and the author kept referring to Governor Crist as Governor Grist. I thought that was pretty funny. Nobody chews on the fat like Governor Grist. And nobody is going to get online poker regulated in Florida either.

Originally published: July, 2009 | Categories: Online Poker