In the Golden State, local cardrooms were under fire and potentially going to face some serious consequences, until some recent news. Per a recent report from the state, a California judge has granted an injunction to California cardrooms, preventing blackjack rule changes from going into effect. The state’s cardrooms would have lost as much as $68 million in revenue, according to the state’s Department of Justice. Additionally, the California Gaming Association (CGA), which sued to block the rules from taking effect, estimated the new changes would eliminate 50% of cardroom jobs. Cities across the state have also signaled that the changes could lead to significant losses in tax revenue, and some have already responded with tax hikes to make up for the potential losses; however, it would seem that cardroom revenue and jobs are safe, at least for the time being.
In this report, SBS will be going over the latest gaming updates coming from California, along with an array of other notes and resources you can find only over at SBS.
Per the same report, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Darwin granted the temporary restraining order on May 21st. The order for the changes, mainly to blackjack games, was issued by the Bureau of Gambling Control. Also, it is under the state Justice Department, with the Office of Administration approving the changes in February, and the rules coming into effect on April 1st, but were not expected to be enforced until June 1st.
However, CGA attorney Jeremy Kreisberg said powers to set rules and procedures for games were delegated to the California Gambling Control Commission under state law, according to a national service. He said that only it can approve games. “But that’s a separate question from who sets the standard for what kinds of games can be played in the state,” he said.
Additionally, Justice Department attorney Sharon O’Grady told the court the department determines which games can be played in the state. She said focusing on rules was a matter of semantics, and the bureau has the power to decide what is a “controlled” game under state law, she said. “What is a card game goes to the heart of what is legal,” she added.
Darwin, the report notes, ultimately found at least preliminarily that the Gambling Control Act does not allow the Bureau of Gambling Control to make those kinds of changes. However, he added in the report: “The structure of the Gambling Control Act is not a thing of beauty.” The order lasts for 45 days as two cases related to the rules make their way through the courts. Darwin has asked for additional written testimony; another hearing is set for June 30th. CGA President Kyle Kirkland praised Darwin’s decision.
“Today’s ruling validates what we have said all along: Attorney General Bonta and the Bureau of Gambling Control exceeded their authority by attempting to rewrite California gaming law,” Kirkland said in the article. “These regulations were driven by pressure from powerful gaming interests that have long sought to eliminate lawful competition from California’s cardrooms.
Noted in the same report, the proposed rule changes would alter the game of blackjack in California significantly in nearly 75 cardrooms across the state. Venues could no longer use the word “blackjack” or “21” game titles. Other changes included: no more automatic wins if dealt a blackjack (an ace and a 10-value card). Additionally, no more “busting,” and a winner is determined by being closest to the “target point count.” Also, third-party providers cannot operate as the bank consecutively. This last point has traditionally been one of the main methods cardrooms use to operate these games.
Additionally, the new rules come after California’s tribal gaming operators have pushed to abolish cardroom blackjack and other games entirely, which they view as illegal, the report notes. Under California’s legal landscape, tribes have exclusivity over slot machines and house-backed table games like blackjack. In September 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 549, allowing tribal operators to sue licensed cardrooms to see if they fall within state law. Additionally, Superior Court Judge Lauri Damrell dismissed a case in October, noting that federal law covers tribal-related gambling. In this instance, the article notes that tribal leaders have praised the Justice Department’s new rules. Finally, in other California gaming news, the state’s tribal groups believe another sports betting ballot initiative will be put before voters in 2028. This will no doubt lead to another hotly contested fight over the future of gaming in the state.
After you are all up to date in relation to the latest gaming news coming from the Golden State, make sure to check out the excellent array of information for you over at SBS. Of course, for even more notes coming from the region, the Texas online betting sites rundown is a must-read page that goes over the latest from the region and more. Additionally, as covered in other reports here, the BetOnline sportsbook review guide is a fantastic resource that goes over an array of awesome notes for eligible customers on the sportsbook. Finally, for those interested in maximizing their wagers and who qualify, the VIP sports betting sites breakdown is a fantastic resource in its own right. On this page, you can learn more about the perks of VIP wagering and beyond.
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.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide: