Over in the Golden State, it appears that state politicians are gaining perhaps more than the combatants in a state legal dispute. Per a recent report, in the latest battle over the future of gambling in California, privately run cardrooms notched a temporary victory over tribal casinos when a judge blocked state regulators from banning blackjack at the gambling halls. The regulations from Attorney General Rob Banta’s Bureau of Gambling Control threaten to wipe out taxes on table games on which many local governments across California rely. However, the report’s commentary notes that whether the state’s 80 or so private poker rooms can keep their lucrative business model – and keep pulling gamblers away from tribal casinos – was hardly settled by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Darwin’s preliminary injunction last month. At least one former lawmaker says that’s cynically good news for the state’s politicians.
For this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming updates coming from the Golden State, along with a variety of other notes and news you can only find at SBS.
As noted in the same article, Democrats and Republicans have accepted millions of dollars in campaign donations from rival gaming factions, as tribes have sought to use the state’s political system to put cardrooms out of the blackjack business. “It keeps the fight going; it keeps the two very powerful interests caring about what goes on at the Legislature, and therefore it keeps the campaign contributions moving as well,” Mike Gatto, a former Democratic lawmaker from Los Angeles, said. Moreover, twenty-seven of the state’s casino-owning tribes have donated at least $15.8 million to current members of the state Legislature, according to the CalMatters Digital Democracy Database.
Per the same article, twenty-six of the cardrooms and affiliated companies have given them at least $2.8 million, according to Digital Democracy. Cardrooms are private businesses that host poker and other card games. Bonta, too, has benefited from the dispute, the report notes. He is up for re-election this year, and cardrooms have donated at least $244,000 to Bonta since 2012, per the same database, compared to $531,000 from tribes. The lopsided donations from the tribes did not affect the attorney general’s decision to pursue regulations that were set to take effect this week, Bonta campaign spokesperson Jonathan Underland said. The Attorney General’s Office referred an interview request about the campaign donations to Underland.
Per the same article, Bonta stopped accepting campaign donations from the gambling factions before he began implementing the regulations, Underland said. “Contributions have never impacted the Attorney General’s decision-making process,” he would go on to say. Underland cited ballot initiatives that gave tribes the right to negotiate compacts with the state to host Las Vegas-style casino games. Additionally, the tribes have fiercely defended their exclusive gambling rights ever since. They argue gaming is a lifeline that gaming is a lifeline that has helped their historically disenfranchised communities out of poverty.
“California voters made their decision on tribal gaming in 1998, and reaffirmed it two years later,” Underland said. “The constitution is a hard line, and Rob Bonta is committed to enforcing it.” The tribes contend cardrooms have unscrupulously violated the rules prohibiting anyone but tribes from offering “house-banked” table games, including blackjack, the most lucrative. The card clubs get around the prohibition by contracting with third-party companies that serve the role of the “house” or the “bank.”
These third-party employees typically sit at tables next to the cardroom dealers. The third-party employee plays no part in the game except to collect players’ bets and pay out winnings. The dealers must periodically offer the opportunity for the players to act as the bank. Almost every customer declines, and the card clubs collect fees from each game.
Bonta agreed with the tribes that the cardrooms were violating the rules and issued regulations that his attorney general predecessors, Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra, started to implement, but never finished. Additionally, Darwin’s preliminary injunction found that Bonta’s office likely exceeded its authority by banning the cardrooms’ most popular table games. The ruling is in effect for 45 days, and the Attorney General’s Office will argue its case in court on June 30th. Kyle Kirkland, a Fresno cardroom owner and president of the California Gaming Association, applauded the temporary ruling and believes his industry will prevail.
“We are a legitimate industry; we have had decades of lawful operation,” Kirkland said. “We operate legally; we provide incredible support to our employees and our host communities.”
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gaming notes coming from the Golden State, make sure to peruse the excellent array of information for you over at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the topic in this report, the California betting sites guide is your go-to resource for all things related to the topic of gambling in the Golden State. Additionally, for those who are interested and eligible, the BetOnline sportsbook review rundown is a must-read page where qualified patrons can explore the latest gaming updates coming from the outlet and more. Finally, the best bonus betting sites breakdown is a must-read page for all eligible customers who are looking for a way to maximize their options. Here you can find a catalogue of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers.
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: