Amaya’s California igaming coalition gets stronger

The Amaya Group has attracted another California gaming group to join a growing partnership to run an online poker operation in the US state should it ever be legalised. San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has agreed to join the existing business agreement between the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, California’s three largest card clubs – the Commerce Club, the Hawaiian Gardens Casino and the Bicycle Casino – and Amaya which owns and operates PokerStars.

The coalition will join together to operate a licensed online poker site and will work together to advocate for legislation that extends California’s tough, long-established gaming regulations to include intrastate online poker.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena said: “We are pleased to join this coalition. We are convinced that the various interests must work together if we are to be successful in establishing a well-regulated environment and the best-in-class Internet poker industry for California.”

Morongo Band of Mission Indians Tribal Chairman Robert  Martin added: “We’re pleased to welcome San Manuel to our coalition. It marks a new day in our efforts to authorise online poker in California. We’re excited about the momentum and opportunities this new agreement represents in getting legislation passed. As tribes come together on this issue, the opportunity for success grows.”

Guy Templer, Group Business Development Director with PokerStars commented: “San Manuel is a strong, forward thinking operator and is a great partner to join our coalition in advocating for the development of an open and well regulated iPoker market in California. We are looking forward to working with the Legislature and with other stakeholders to help develop an industry that will benefit California consumers and the State alike.”