June 27, 2002: For the third year in a row, a bill to ban Internet gambling in California has died in the state Legislature.
The measure by Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Los Feliz) died without a vote Tuesday in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee, the panel that deals with tobacco, alcohol and gambling bills.
Native American tribes, which were granted the right to offer slot machines and expand gambling operations by California voters in 1998, did not testify at the hearing. But some lobbied vigorously to defeat Assembly Bill 1229 because they are interested in offering Internet gambling, legislators said.
A number of law enforcement organizations and anti-gambling groups supported Frommer's legislation, which was originally tabled in the Senate last year. Frommer also enjoyed support from the state's horseracing interests, which are permitted to offer online gambling services under legislation Wesson carried last year.
But, according to Frommer and other members of the committee, the bill was opposed by Indian gaming groups.
Nevada passed a law last year that allows Las Vegas casinos to operate Internet sites in states where online gambling is legal, and some Indian casinos feel a need to follow suit for competitive reasons.

May 21, 2002: Gov. Davis recently signed a bill permitting everyone in California to bet on authorized horse races from their homes, offices, schools, etc., by phone and computer. Click on the link below "California legalizes Internet Gambling" for comment by Professor I. Nelson Rose, GamblingAndTheLaw.

February 22, 2002: Youbet.com has been granted regulatory approval to receive the third account wagering license in the California market. Currently, Youbet has 3,500 "limited" California customers, which were previously only allowed access to information and live race streaming,but were not permitted to place wagers over the Youbet.com Network. Now, any Californian interested in account wagering would be able to open a TotalAccess account and place a wager over the Youbet.com system. Currently, the other account wagering licensees in California are Magna Entertainment Corp. and TVG Network, with whom Youbet.com has a number of strategic relationships. The fourth and final application in California, submitted by Scientific Games, has been put on hold by a request for additional, non-material information from the California Horseracing Board (CHRB). According to Bear Stearns, account wagering represents a significant growth opportunity for the $16-billion pari-mutuel horseracing industry over the next several years. See press release below for further information.

January 24, 2002: The California Horse Racing Board has voted to approve licences for two companies to begin accepting bets by phone and over the Net. Click on the press release below for details.

November 30, 2001: The California Horseracing Board has adopted regulations allowing for Advance Deposit Wagering for account holders within and outside California. Click on the link to the Press Release for further details.

August 13, 2001: New legislation signed by California Governor Gray Davis will allow the horse racing industry to offer online wagering. The move comes as other legislation now making its way through California's Senate aims to crack down on just about all other opportunities for online gambling.
The laws inked Monday could help the horse racing business in California recover some of the $250 million it figures is being sent outside the state each year by off-track gamblers using telephones or the Internet.
Meanwhile, a broad anti-gambling bill targeting online betting was passed by the Assembly in June and is still before a Senate committee.
That bill, introduced by Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Glendale, would amend the penal code to allow the state to prosecute the operators of offshore and out-of-state Internet casinos who lure Californian customers. However, that bill specifically exempts wagering under the auspices of the California Horse Racing Board and some gambling services hosted by native Indian bands.
The measure, which will effectively replace illegal bookies with state sanctioned bet takers, is primarily intended to protect the rights of employees who work at state racetracks, by improving housing standards and allowing unionization. Please click on the link for a copy of the bill AB 4osphatemia garnetized comptr turacin tocology tumo