California Cardrooms File A Lawsuit To Block New Blackjack Rules - Poker News

"Attorney General (Rob) 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. 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."

"The new rules prohibit venues from using the words "blackjack" or "21" in game titles. Additionally, the game can't award an automatic win if a player is dealt a blackjack. It also requires players to act as third-party players (TPPs), who are responsible for paying out winning bets."

"According to the CGA, the state's 72 cardrooms employ more than 23,000 people, generate more than $2 billion in annual economic activity. A 2024 state report said the changes would hurt the properties and could cost the state millions of dollars in tax revenue and thousands of jobs."

California's Office of Administrative Law approved regulations in February that significantly alter traditional blackjack games in nearly 75 cardrooms statewide. The new rules prohibit using the words "blackjack" or "21" in game titles, eliminate automatic wins for blackjack hands, and require players to serve as third-party payers responsible for payouts instead of outside companies. The California Gaming Association and multiple cardrooms filed lawsuits in San Francisco Superior Court to block implementation. CGA leadership argues the regulations threaten over half of cardroom jobs and eliminate critical city revenue without documented public safety concerns. A 2024 state report predicted the changes would cost millions in tax revenue and thousands of jobs. Rules take effect April 1 with compliance deadlines by May 31.

Read at Card Player