- California card rooms are seeking an injunction to stop the state from implementing new blackjack rules
- The California Gaming Association filed a lawsuit to overturn the new blackjack rules.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On Wednesday, the California Gaming Association, which is representing independent card rooms in the state, are seeking an injunction in an effort to stop lawmakers from implementing the harsh blackjack rules for non-tribal card rooms.
The argument being used to acquire the injunction is that legal blackjack rooms in the state would face financial hardships in the form of layoffs to their employees.
“Many of my colleagues in any industry have talked about whether or not they could stay open,” said Heather Guerena, Vice President and General Counsel for Stones Gambling Hall. “We’ve talked about [needing] to shut one of them down in order to sustain the business.”
Although the rules were officially put into place on April 1st, California blackjack, rooms have until May 31st to submit their compliance plans with the California Department of Justice.
Tribes Ready For New Rules
On the contrary, California tribes are all for the rule change and have been waiting for a change for quite some time, stating that cardrooms are infringing on their casino exclusivity in the state.
“The cardrooms … felt like they were operating appropriately because no one was enforcing it against them,” said Nick Bryson, attorney for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. “I’m pleased the attorney general has made clear his rules, and I hope he’ll enforce them now.”
It is expected that cardrooms could lose up to $68 million in revenue with the new rules, while tribal casinos would gain $34 million.