Two lawsuits filed in San Francisco Superior Court challenge new gambling regulations approved by Attorney General Rob Bonta. Per a recent article, cardroom operators say the rules could cut jobs and reduce revenue for cities that depend on gambling activity. Additionally, the lawsuits come from the California Gaming Association with support from the California Cardroom Alliance and Communities for California Cardrooms. Legal filings aim to block rules issued by the Bureau of Gambling Control under the California Department of Justice. Proposed regulations would remove blackjack-style games and restrict player-dealer games inside cardrooms, and industry leaders are saying those games have operated for decades under previous legal interpretations from past Attorneys General.
In this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming from California, along with a variety of other notes and information you can only find over at SBS.
Per the same article, according to the Attorney General Standardized Regulatory Impact Assessment, the rules could remove at least half of cardroom revenue and employment. Operators warn that such losses could push many venues toward closure. If courts do not intervene, the same report notes, regulators plan to begin implementing the rules on April 1, 2026, with changes affecting games that could start as early as June. Industry groups argue the policy represents an expansion of authority beyond existing state law governing cardroom operations. Operators were also noted in the report, saying the rules reverse long-standing interpretations followed under prior Attorneys General, including Jerry Brown and Kamala Harris.
Kyle Kirkland, President of the California Gaming Association, said this in the article.
“Attorney General Bonta’s regulations threaten to eliminate more than half of California’s cardroom jobs and wipe out a critical source of revenue for dozens of cities,” Kirkland said. “These games have operated legally for decades under multiple Attorneys General, yet one public official is now moving to shut them down without identifying a single public safety concern or addressing the 1,764 public comments about these regulations.”
He would go on to elaborate, “Our industry repeatedly raised legal and economic concerns throughout the rulemaking process, but the Attorney General refused to engage with the communities and working families who will be harmed,” Kirkland said in the article. “We are asking the court to stop these unlawful regulations before they wipe out thousands of jobs and put many local economies into fiscal distress across California.”
Industry groups, the report notes, also point to strong opposition during the rulemaking process. The Department of Justice finalized the regulations on February 9th after receiving 1,764 public comments. Many submissions questioned legal authority and warned about economic consequences. Local governments have also raised concerns about potential revenue loss. Additionally, officials in San Jose said cardroom income supports funding for police, fire departments, and 9-1-1 emergency services. The report also noted that the City of Commerce has already placed a quarter-cent sales tax proposal on the June 2026 ballot to help offset potential losses. Other municipalities are reviewing similar measures if the regulations proceed.
In other California gaming news, Matt Bowyer, who made headlines as the bookie for one-time Japanese interpreter and de facto manager of MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani, has been released from prison early after serving less than six months behind bars. Bowyer had been facing up to 18 years, but was released earlier this month, after having served nearly five months behind bars. Bowyer reported to a halfway home in San Pedro, California, according to a filing from the US Bureau of Prisons. The facility is located about 50 miles north of his residence in Orange County.
Additionally, the new report points out, the 50-year-old from San Juan Capistrano, California, agreed to plead guilty last summer to three-count information. This includes operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return. Bowyer’s attorney, Diane Bass, argued that her client had no prior legal trouble and expressed a willingness to cooperate in this matter. She described her client as a “gambling addict” who “has faced his demons” and is seeking house arrest as well as time served. “We should not measure justice by the number of calendar pages that turn,” Bass wrote in the report. “Instead, we should look at how hard a person works to reconcile with society, make amends, and prepare as a law-abiding citizen.” According to his plea agreement, Bowyer operated an unlicensed and illegal bookmaking business that focused mostly on sports betting.
After you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gaming news and notes coming from the Golden State, make sure to check out the excellent array of info for you only at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the state in this report, the California sports betting guide is a must-read page that goes over an array of information related to gaming news in the state. Conversely, for those who are eligible and qualify, the BetOnline sportsbook review rundown is a must-read source that covers all kinds of news from the outlet. Finally, for those on the go, the best betting apps breakdown is another fantastic page of insights. Here, qualified customers can learn more about the nuances of mobile betting and see how they can stay on top of the action.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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