Mission
The California Online Poker Association (COPA) is a coalition of California tribes and card rooms dedicated to the development of a safe and secure option for Californians to play poker online.
As California’s gaming partners, tribes and card rooms have established themselves to be proven, responsible gaming operators. Together, they provide thousands of jobs for Californians and have generated billions in revenue for the State in the past decade. These revenues have helped the State pay for public education, health care and police and fire services in communities across California.
More than 2 million Californians play poker online. A regulated and secure Web site will ensure players are protected from theft and cheating that currently goes unchecked.
With so many Californians playing poker online, COPA is encouraging the State to authorize online poker. Once approved, the operation of online poker will be conducted with the highest standards of game and operator integrity, run by Californians, for Californians.
Online Poker Facts
In 2006, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA), declaring the operation of and participation in online gaming activities with actual money to be illegal in the United States.
Despite UIGEA, it’s estimated that Californians wager more than $13 billion a year on illegal, offshore online poker Web sites. The market for online poker is expected to grow by more than 10% each year through 2012 even though current laws prohibit play and operation in the U.S., according to a study by the Innovation Group, a leading gaming advisory firm.
California is estimated to be the largest single market for online poker play, with more than 60% of the country’s players based in the State and more than 2 million residents playing online. It has been estimated that California could see more than $1.4 billion in revenue from the authorization of online poker in the next 10 years, according to a report by former state Finance Director Tim Gage.
Across the country this issue is being debated and considered. The New Jersey legislature recently approved a measure authorizing online poker in that state and other online gaming measures are being considered elsewhere.
Now is the time for California to step forward and keep potential jobs and revenue in the state.
Consumer & Player Protections
In 2008, a group of U.S. players were victims of a scam being run on an off-shore poker Web site. Hackers had taken advantage of the site’s lax security and began cheating on thousands of games. Players who were victimized lost more than $75 million - money most were never able to recoup.
Unfortunately, thousands of these stories go unreported by victims each year. As a result, COPA is encouraging the State of California to enact strict regulations that will protect consumers from fraud and theft.
These regulations will include:
- Built-in safeguards against cheating
- Regulations preventing online fraud
- Strict login rules to keep minors from playing online
- Resources and assistance for problem gamblers
Jobs & Revenue for California
Currently, California’s budget deficit is more than $9 billion and its unemployment rate is 12%.
Online poker will give California a much needed infusion of more than 1,300 jobs and $1.4 billion in revenue without raising taxes on residents who are already struggling in this difficult economy, according to a report by former State Finance Director Tim Gage.
The authorization and regulation of online poker in California, will require all operators, players and even banks accepting poker accounts to be located in the state. Doing so will provide additional revenue to the State's general fund and support job growth.
