If you remember, and you probably don’t, a while back we reported on the Morongo Band in Mission Indians and their quest to provide online gambling within the state of California. Recently, the Morongo Band has opposed measures in Congress to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). While that may seem absurd, given their desire to provide online gambling, there seemed to be selfish reasons for it. A legalization of it nationwide would increase competition and the Morongos, according to some, wanted it all to themselves.

Now, however, the tribe seems to be getting more generous. They now are asking the state to allow them to allow them to provide online poker. The state should regulate the industry to ensure that it is safe and fair. In return, the tribe would cut the state in on some of the profit. The Morongo Band is reiterating that California need not wait for nationwide regulation. If they keep the online poker games inside the state and only allow players who reside in California to play, no federal regulation is necessary.

Facing major budget problems, California is looking for any ways to make extra money, so it’s possible that they’ll go along with the Morongo’s ideas. Only time will tell.

The war party in California between the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and other tribes to legalize intrastate online poker has screeched to a halt. The Morongo tribe had proposed a plan to allow regulation of online poker in California, was first met with delays and now it doesn’t look like anything will be done until January at the earliest.

Patrick Dorinson, a spokesman for the tribe said: “Some concerns have been raised and we want to make sure we address those concerns so this can benefit everyone. We are going to redouble our efforts and present this in January to the (state) Legislature.”

By “benefit everyone,” Mr. Dorinsonnnn is obviously eluding to tribes like the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the Pechenga Band of Mission Indians who have a large stake in the money making potential of legalized online poker. These Native American tribes have taken a hard line against the Morongos and lobbied against the proposal consistently since its inception. Pechanga Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro explains, “Tribal and state leaders clearly need more time to weigh the consequences of this proposal. There may be merit to the concept, but a lot of questions still need to be addressed,” he said.

Delays in the online poker legislation had already been expected when California Senate leader Darrell Steinberg mentioned that the proposal, which was only five pages, would not allow the California state legislature the proper time-frame to come to a decision.

As reported recently, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians has proposed a bill to open an online casino, offering online poker specifically, for the exclusive use of players within the California state line. The bill is five pages long and the hope was/is to push it through and have it passed before the closing of the legistlative year on September 11. But things aren’t looking up and lawmakers are saying they will need more time to more thoroughly examine the bill.

Senator Darrell Steinberg, a Democratic representative from Sacramento told reporters, “a legitimate idea for consideration… it should not be taken up in the last four weeks.” he said, “I think it’s going to take more than four weeks to analyze that kind of proposal and the potential economic benefit.”

There is also another group opposing the bill which is throwing a monkey wrench into the Morongo Tribe’s plans. The Pechenga Band of Mission Indians sent a letter opposing the legislation on Wednesday reading, “Pechenga has had a standing opposition to online poker since proposals first surfaced last year, out of concerns for the far-reaching legal, political and policy consequences of an expansion of this magnitude.”

The California Tribal Business Alliance (CTBA) also sent a letter detailing their displeasure with the bill to the California legislature.