California’s divided tribes attempted to find online poker consensus at the 20th annual Western Indian Gaming Conference (WIGC) on Wednesday. The two main sticking points remain whether or not the state’s racetracks should be allowed to add poker to their current online advance deposit wagering sites and similar concerns over the participation of so-called ‘bad actors,’ i.e. PokerStars.

As detailed earlier this week by Pechanga.net’s Dave Palermo, there are three factions squaring off in California’s online poker octagon. There’s the Morongo and San Manuel bands of Mission Indians, who want Stars in and are supporting Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer’s AB 167 legislation.

Opposing them is the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, who want to exclude both Stars and the racetracks. They support Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s AB 9 legislation.

Sitting on the fence are the Pala Band of Luiseño Indians (already offering online poker in New Jersey), the United Auburn Indian Community (who have a deal with Bwin.party digital entertainment) and the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians (who have partnered with Caesars Interactive Entertainment). Rincon councilman Steve Stallings told Palermo he thought “the bad actor language will be less of an issue than the tracks.”

Rincon attorney Stephen Hart followed up on this thought at the WIGC. Pechange.net editor Victor Rocha (@VictorRocha1) quoted Hart saying that (a) the racetracks needed to be included in any bill to assure it getting past their powerful lobby in Sacramento, and (b) the concept of ‘bad actors’ didn’t apply if the company was under new ownership and management, as in the case of Amaya Gaming’s acquisition of Stars last June.

The Press Enterprise quoted Rincon chairman Bo Mazzetti telling attendees that “there will be some things we don’t like” in any compromise legislation but there had to be “a lot of give and take on all our parts” if the tribes were ever going to clear this hurdle. Morongo chairman Robert Martin echoed Mazzetti, saying “there has to be compromise or it won’t get done.”

Morongo attorney George Forman said there were ways to allow Stars to participate in California’s regulated market while still excluding truly bad actors. Forman suggested crafting the legislative wording to specifically exclude operators with ‘continuing problems.’ Frankly, we’re hoping this results in the creation of a sliding scale of thespianity, ranging from Daniel Day Lewis (888poker) all the way to Keanu Reeves (Lock Poker). And the online poker license goes to…