“Best practices for online poker would be to involve brick-and-mortar businesses”

The inclusion of the bad actor clause has already caused many interested parties to become critical of the bill yet an additional stipulation that is unique to the measure even more concerned about the bill.

The stipulation that has everyone's feathers ruffled is the requirement that players must register for online gaming in people well as make initial deposits in person. The main benefit of playing online poker is to be able to do so in the comfort of your home. With this stipulation, players will have to visit a land-based casino to get started, which may hurt the online poker industry if the bill is passed.

The argument is that the extra step is not a standard in the poker industry and has many questioning Gatto’s reasoning behind adding the requirement to his legislation. The lawmaker used the San Diego site as an exampleto explain the bill and give a specific explanation as to how he feels the bill will supplement the brick-and-mortar businesses of the state.

Gatto feels that the best practices for the online poker industry would be to involve brick-and-mortar businesses and take cues from established business practices. Gatto compares opening an online poker account in person to opening a bank account. You must present yourself with identification for validation.

The brick-and-mortar venues would have to meet strict security criteria to be able to operate in this manner. The initial deposit would take place in person and the subsequent deposits could take place online.

There would be a similar rule in place for cashing out within certain monetary amounts and/ or frequency of cash-outs. Gatto feels as though this restriction will help to deter minors from accessing gaming sites.

The lawmaker stated that this option would reduce the likelihood that a minor would be accepted into the system. Potential money-launderers would be weeded out and brick-and-mortar locations would be able to profit from online poker as well, even if they are too small to open an online poker site, according to Gatto.

For now the bill is up against opposition, so it will be interesting to watch what happens with the legislation and if online poker will come to fruition in the state of California.