People Fight Back as California Mulls Stopping Blackjack in Cardrooms

This week, more people spoke up against a plan to stop blackjack and baccarat games in California cardrooms. At a state meeting held by the Bureau of Gambling Control, city leaders, business owners, and locals shared their concerns. They joined the online meeting to say this change could hurt local economies and cause many people to lose their jobs.

Tribal Lawsuit Sparks Push to Limit Blackjack and Other Games in California Cardrooms

The idea to limit these games comes from a lawsuit that California tribal nations filed earlier this year. The tribes say cardrooms are breaking the law by offering banked games. They claim this goes against the state’s rules by stepping on the tribes’ special right to have these games.

The legal battle centers on cardrooms using outside contractors as the house in games like blackjack. These third-party proposition players step in when customers do not want to be the banker. Cardrooms say this practice follows state rules and keeps games running. However, tribal leaders argue it is still against the law.

A report from Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office shows the suggested changes could slash cardroom industry jobs and money by half. This might cause about 12,000 people to lose their jobs across California. It would also mean much less tax money for local governments.

California Cities Warn Cardroom Restrictions Could Gut Local Budgets

City officials who rely on cardroom income have voiced deep worries. Juan Garza, speaking for California Cities for Self-Reliance, stressed that taxes from gaming help pay for key community services like police, fire departments, and parks. He cautioned that the new rules might rob cities of crucial financial sources, leaving them with few other options.

In Hawaiian Gardens, where a local cardroom provides over 60% of the city’s general fund, Mayor Dandy de Paula warned that the proposed ban could push the city toward financial troubles. She claimed that games such as blackjack have run for many years and that bringing in new rules now would hurt the city and lack justification.

Industry spokespeople challenged the credibility of the economic study and voiced their support for the suggested rules. They argue the report did not consider wider effects on related industries like hotels and shops, and made guesses about how players might act and possible financial shifts to tribal casinos.

Thursday’s meeting gave opponents of the ban a chance to state their views, but more public input is likely as talks go on. California now has 84 cardrooms with licenses, and many in the business are getting ready for what could be a key choice affecting the future of legal card games in the state.