Momentum to get online poker legalized and controlled throughout the state of California has fallen by the wayside way to the legislative session ending Wednesday. Yet again, poker players must wait until next year.

There was serious progress made in 2016, as California lawmakers discovered the way to appease the racing industry and the tribes on one front by giving the previous a virtually $60 million annual subsidy in exchange for not being eligible for online poker licenses. That deal was hashed out early within the year. California’s tracks already offer online wagering, the one type of online betting currently legal within the state.

While that matter was settled, the overall hurdle that never was cleared was the right way to craft “suitability” language for firms that facilitated online poker for Americans within the legal gray area between 2006 and 2011.

The company under fire is PokerStars, as most tribal groups, though to varying degrees, oppose the operator being involved with California. A FEW tribes partnered with PokerStars, so there has been no consensus some of the tribes on suitability. In August, Assemblymember Adam Gray, sponsor of the web poker bill, released new amendments that might put PokerStars in a so-called penalty box for a period of 5 years. However, PokerStars and its partners argued that the language could amount to a life-time ban.

Shortly after the amendments were released, the Poker Players Alliance and the PokerStars coalition switched their stance to opposing the bill.

The route to ending the stalemate in 2017 is unclear if PokerStars remains within the mix. The state’s tribal gaming industry includes roughly 60 casinos and a market worth greater than $7 billion. California is by far the nation’s largest tribal casino market.

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