Poker Writer
California cardrooms filed two lawsuits that challenge Attorney General Rob Bonta’s new state regulations that would bar cardrooms from offering blackjack and limit other third-party dealer games. The new regulations came about in February but take effect no later than May 31.
The regulations would also require a “player-dealer” role to be held by two of the players in the game at least every 40 minutes. Currently, contracted individuals known as Third-Party Proposition Player Services (TPPPS) deal the games.
The California Gaming Association and the California Cardroom Alliance have joined together to fight these regulations, which they say would decimate the industry.
Both suits were filed in the San Francisco County Superior Court. The lawsuits seek to invalidate the new California gambling regulations.
Cardrooms Call New Regulations an ‘Unprecedented Power Grab’
The association argues that the sudden regulations go against decades of precedent allowing blackjack. They called the regulations “a power grab” by AG Bonta.
The president of the California Gaming Association, Kyle Kirkland, criticized Bonta in a release:
Attorney General 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.
He also said that this move was made without anyone identifying the issue with blackjack or why it posed a safety concern. The AG has also not addressed the nearly 2,000 public comments questioning the regulations, according to Kirkland.
Kirkland also went after Bonta’s lack of engagement with the communities most affected by the regulations.
“The Attorney General refused to engage with the communities and working families who will be harmed,” he said.
As many as 13,000 jobs statewide could be eliminated due to the regulations. That would account for almost half of all cardroom jobs in the state.
Bonta’s Complicated History With Casinos and Cardrooms
The 53-year-old Filipino-born Bonta became California’s attorney general in 2021, after appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
In his time as AG, he has taken several tough stances against casinos and cardrooms in the state. He has also taken strict stances against unregulated gambling, declaring daily fantasy sports illegal in 2025.
Early in his tenure, he took action against the Bicycle Casino in the Los Angeles area, saying that it violated anti-money laundering provisions.
But this investigation was muddied when Bonta allegedly took a $16,000 campaign donation from the same Bicycle casino that he was investigating.
His time as AG has also required him to mediate between strong tribal gaming interests in the state and the cardrooms. Bonta appears to be siding with the tribes in the ongoing war. Now, the fight moves to the courts yet again.
Image credit: Pi.1415926535/Wikimedia Commons (license)
