AB 2291 Summary

• Establishes framework to authorize intrastate Internet poker in California through licenses issued by the California Gambling Control Commission, limited to eligible card rooms and federally recognized Indian tribes with 5+ years of regulated gaming experience.

• Imposes $5,000,000 one-time license fee per licensee (credited against quarterly 5% gross gaming revenue fees) and creates Internet Poker Fund for regulatory costs, consumer protection, and problem gambling programs.

• Prohibits all Internet gambling except authorized poker games, bans public gambling venues with Internet-connected devices, and creates misdemeanor penalties for violations.

• Requires licensees to implement age/location verification, player account segregation, data security standards, 24-hour customer support, and responsible gambling tools including self-exclusion options.

• Establishes Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Fund and permits civil penalties (amount unspecified) for illegal gambling activities, with revenue allocated to law enforcement and county/city enforcement agencies.