Richard Schuetz (pictured), a commissioner for the California Gambling Control Commission, believes it likely that the state may only be able to legalise online poker amid fears that i-gaming could “cannibalise” the tribal land-based casino market.
In an interview with onlinepokerreport.com, Schuetz also said that the population of California meant it would not need to rely on interstate compacts.
"We have 38 million people,” said Schuetz. “We’re the eighth largest economy in the world. We’re bigger than Canada, so it’s not a case like Nevada that has 2.7 million people.” He added: "We have more poker tables in the state of California than every other state in the nation.
"This is a game about numbers. If the numbers aren’t there, all the wishing and hoping is not going to make it work. In some regards, it’s like a state saying, ‘We want to be an oil producer.’ Well, you better have oil.
"For a small state to try and develop a game that involves big numbers is a problem. So California is in a unique situation with its 38 million-plus people.”
There was also caution from Schuetz, highlighting the fact that passing an online gambling bill in California in 2014 – an election year in the state – would be problematic. He also said that he could not rule out completely the possibility of interstate compacts.
