CA AB1677

Establishes the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2016 to authorize intrastate internet poker in California through a licensing framework administered by the California Gambling Control Commission and Department of Justice.

Permits only eligible entities (card rooms operating 5+ years or federally recognized tribes with gaming facilities) to obtain 7-year operator licenses to offer authorized poker games on internet websites to registered players 21+ physically located in California.

Requires licensed operators to implement player protections including age and location verification, segregated player accounts, responsible gambling tools, privacy safeguards, and 24/7 customer support.

Establishes fees totaling $12.5 million one-time license deposit per operator plus annual percentages of gross gaming revenue (8.847%-15% based on total state revenues), with 95% of first $60 million annually directed to horse racing and jockeys, and 5% to state fairs.

Prohibits unlicensed internet poker, aggregating computers for multi-player internet poker in public settings, and non-poker internet gambling; violations are felonies with civil penalties up to unspecified amounts and property forfeiture to an Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Fund.