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Leader of California Online Poker Movement Quits

August 4, 2009 (CAP Newswire) — The driving force behind the campaign to implement fully legalized and regulated online poker within the state of California, the Poker Voters of America, has lost its president, Jim Tabilio, who resigned from the organization last week.

Tabilio, who was not only the leader but also the founder of the organization, has reportedly chosen to transition to a career as a private sector lobbyist on gaming legislation and policy. Although he will still periodically consult for the group, spokespersons say, the board will most likely name a successor within the next several months.

This development won’t hurt the Poker Voters of America’s goal of delivering a foundation for legal and regulated intrastate Internet poker in California by 2010, the group has reassured the industry. Nor will it be affected by recent budget difficulties in that state, or the threat of a budget overhaul by desperate state lawmakers. (California currently faces an extreme budget crisis with about a $25 billion deficit.)