Sen. Wright sheds committee role; seen as setback for Internet poker
SACRAMENTO -- State Sen. Roderick Wright’s felony verdict by a jury this week has been a major topic of news in gambling-oriented newspapers and chat rooms, with the consensus being his legal problems are a setback for efforts to legalize Internet poker in California.
That is because Wright, a Democrat from Inglewood, has been chairman of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee, which handles all gambling bills, and he is the author of multiple bills over the years seeking to allow state-sanctioned poker and other games on the Internet.
On Thursday, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) removed Wright as chairman, saying it was done at Wright’s request so he could focus on appealing the eight felony convictions for voter fraud and perjury handed down by a Los Angeles jury this week.
Prosectuors allege that Wright lied when he signed forms indicating he lived in his Senate district when he ran for office.
Nicholas Kisberg, the chief executive of CardsChat.com, said the legal issues are a setback for legalizing poker. “It will cause delays in introducing new legislation for sites to operate in the state – that is certainly true,” Kisberg said.
He said industry people thought a poker bill probably would not gain traction until next year.
“Internet poker is not going anywhere, and Sen. Wright is appealing the jury’s verdict, so he is not going anywhere just yet either,” Kisberg said. “As a man of vision, and a man willing to take the poker bull buy the horns and stand behind legislation, his influence will be sorely missed. This could cause catastrophic delays for the industry.”
He still thinks it is inevitable that Internet poker will be allowed someday. “Besides the lucrative taxes that the state is vying for, it is the backing of the land-based casinos that, ultimately, will drive the necessary legislation forwards,” he said.
ALSO:
State Sen. Roderick Wright found guilty of perjury, voter fraud
Republican leader calls for Sen. Wright to resign
Rep. Henry Waxman to retire from Congress
Twitter: @mcgreevy99
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