A San Francisco Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction stopping California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s proposed cardroom regulations from taking effect. The injunction freezes enforcement while a lawsuit by the California Gaming Association continues. The association claims the court found the Bureau of Gambling Control likely exceeded its authority by approving rules that could effectively outlaw games cardrooms have offered for years. The court also found clear and convincing evidence that enforcement would cause serious and irreversible damage to gambling businesses and cities relying on tax revenue. The dispute is part of broader conflicts between tribal casinos and licensed cardrooms over limits in state gaming law, with tribal groups supporting the regulations and cardroom operators warning of major economic harm.
"Judge Richard Darwin issued a preliminary injunction that freezes enforcement while the California Gaming Association 's lawsuit continues. The association said the court determined the Bureau of Gambling Control likely exceeded its authority by approving rules that could effectively outlaw games cardrooms have offered for years."
"According to the association, the judge also found "clear and convincing evidence" that enforcing the regulations would cause serious and irreversible damage to both gambling businesses and the cities that rely on their tax revenue."
"Cardroom operators argue the proposed rules would dramatically reshape the industry by removing blackjack-style games and placing tighter restrictions on longstanding table games already monitored by state regulators. The California Gaming Association said the attorney general's own economic review projected losses exceeding half of statewide cardroom revenue if the regulations were enforced."
"Industry representatives say those losses could trigger widespread layoffs while reducing local funding tied to gaming taxes. Cities across California depend on cardroom revenue to support police departments, fire services, parks, and youth programs."
Read at ReadWrite
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]