Last year, California lawmakers who wanted to limit the number of card rooms in the Golden State to 72 and also cap the number of tables were unable to agree on the details of the bill that would have extended the 25-year moratorium.
California’s Gambling Control Act of 1997 sun-setted at the start of the new year and the moratorium ended 25 years after it began. The state’s gaming regulators have already begun accepting license applications for card clubs.
However, a consortium of five gaming tribes and members of the card room industry who think that 72 is enough have joined forces to support a bill by Rep. James Ramos. AB341 would do most of what the old law did, but it does include a new provision that would allow smaller cardrooms that have seen growth to add up to 10 tables. But they would have to be added in increments.
The industry supports the bill because they don’t want to saturate the market. The tribes support it because they don’t want more gaming—except for tribal gaming.
The original law established a 10-year moratorium. It was extended several times over the years.
Leaders representing the five tribes—the Cahuilla Band of Indians, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians—issued this statement supporting the bill: “For over 20 years, California voters have consistently opposed unfettered expansion of gaming across California and have stood with Indian tribes in support of gaming on federally-recognized tribal lands.”
It added, “We believe the proposed legislation by Assemblymember Ramos provides a balance by allowing for a measured expansion of California’s cardroom industry. We look forward to working with the Legislature, the cardroom industry and the tribal community on finding a balance that is consistent with California voters support of tribal gaming.”
