The sound of players shuffling and stacking poker chips filled the card room at Napa Valley Casino like a symphony of chirping crickets Saturday, but this was no ordinary poker game. Among the 100 tournament participants at the American Canyon card house were poker superstars Daniel Negreanu and Chris Moneymaker, betting, folding and shooting the breeze while mingling with locals.

Negreanu, whose career winnings total more than $30 million, is a two-time World Poker Tour champion, and his résumé includes six World Series of Poker bracelets. Moneymaker is best known for his 2003 main event World Series of Poker victory, where he turned a $40 buy-in into $2.5 million after qualifying for the event via online entry, proving that an amateur could take on the pros and win big, igniting an interest in online poker across the nation in the process.

However, online poker, the format Moneymaker used to rise to fame, has been unauthorized in California since 2011, following a nationwide crackdown on online gambling. Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have legislation allowing online gambling, but California has yet to get a law on the books – not that legislators haven't tried. California came close to passing legislation last year, but the bill fizzled out by the end of session.

This year California Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer introduced AB167, dubbed the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2015, to authorize and regulate online gambling. The legislation would create a licensing process for online gambling outlets to ensure the protection of online players.

Negreanu and Moneymaker were in American Canyon as part of PokerStars' Let California Play pro tour, a campaign to create awareness for the Californians for Responsible iPoker, a grassroots coalition seeking the authorization and regulation of online gambling in the state.

"There are millions of poker players in California, and they deserve to be able to play poker in the comfort of their own homes," said Lee Jones, PokerStars' director of poker communications. "Until iPoker is regulated in California, online players are going to play at unauthorized sites, which puts them at risk. Yes, there is risk in gambling, but when you play online poker, you should be able to play knowing that your financial information is protected and that you will be paid your winnings."

Jones said he hopes the PokerStars' Let California Play pro tour will inspire poker players at all levels to reach out to their legislators and ask for regulated online gambling laws.

"Poker players need to make their voices heard," Jones said. "They want to play online legally, but to do that, they need to reach out to their local lawmakers and let them know that this is something important to them."

Some opponents of online gaming argue that online play will take away business from the brick-and-mortar casinos and card houses in California, but Napa Valley Casino owner Brian Altizer only sees the legalization of online poker as a bonus for business.

"It can be intimidating to walk into a card room and sit down at a table with a bunch of strangers," Altizer said. "For people who want to learn about poker and work at improving their game, online poker is a great thing. You can play in your pajamas if that's what you want. You can take the time to practice and build confidence so that when you feel comfortable, you can come to the casinos and card houses and try your luck."

Negreanu and Moneymaker, who met with fans to sign autographs and pose for photos prior to the tournament, agreed about the benefits of online poker for players who want to better their game.

"I practice 10 to 15 hours a week to improve my game," Moneymaker said. "The game is always evolving, always changing, so you have to practice – even the pros. You have to stay sharp. Online poker is a great outlet for that. You can play in your spare time and get to know the nuances of the game."

Negreanu encouraged amateur poker players to watch poker shows on TV and online and listen to the commentary while studying the game in addition to practicing. "If you want to be a better player, you need to focus on your game. Study the game. Train like you are an athlete. Develop strategies. Know your weaknesses. Don't rush into a high-stakes game. That's like a rookie skipping the minor leagues and going straight to the majors. You need to develop your skills first."

To make sure each tournament player got a chance to play against the pros, Negreanu and Moneymaker rotated game tables throughout the day, chatting with fans as they played.

American Canyon resident Dean Curnen didn't sign up in time before all the tournament positions were filled, but he attended the event to support one of his friends who did make the cut.

"This is pretty amazing," Curnen said as he surveyed the room. "To play at the same table as the pros, when do you get an opportunity like that at an amateur level? It's unbelievable. This could be the biggest thing that's ever happened to American Canyon."

Curnen was particularly excited to see Negreanu. "I love to watch him play. He just seems like a really cool guy. The fact that he's playing just 5 feet away from me is pretty unreal."

The buy-in for Saturday's tournament was $335 — $300 went into the prize pot and the remaining $35 was donated to charity — split between Wounded Warriors, and Boys and Girls Club of American Canyon. PokerStars pledged to donate a minimum of $1,000 or the combined winnings of Negreanu and Moneymaker to the local Boys and Girls Club.

This is a reprint from napavalleyregister.com. to view the original, click here.