BIG:T;he online poker legislation proposed this week by California Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer has received a thumbs up from the coalition that includes PokerStars.

Lacking a specific “bad actor” clause, as well as including the state’s horse racing industry, AB 167 is seemingly inclusive rather than exclusive, a departure from previous bills proposed over the past several years.

Q:We applaud Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer for his thoughtful approach to iPoker legislation in California which takes into account many years of input from stakeholders on all sides,” said a statement issued by the PokerStars Coalition that includes the San Manuel and Morongo tribes, and the Commerce, Hawaiian Gardens and Bicycle cardrooms.;

That coalition further stated that the particulars and fine print of the proposal are still being analyzed, presumably by attorneys who can wade through the legalese, but a first reading finds encouragement in the fact that AB 167 “will move the discussion of online poker forward in a positive direction.”