California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 341, prolonging the existing moratorium on issuing new cardroom licenses for an additional two decades. This extension has gained support from 40 Californian tribes and introduces provisions for smaller cardrooms to incrementally increase their table offerings.
Extension of the Moratorium:
Twenty-Year Freeze: AB 341 extends the state’s moratorium, which was initially imposed in 1997 for 25 years, until 2043.
Smaller Cardrooms: The bill allows smaller cardrooms with fewer than 20 gaming tables to add up to 10 new tables gradually.
Incremental Growth: Smaller cardrooms can initially add two new tables when the law takes effect, with the option to introduce two additional tables every four years thereafter.
Support and Consensus:
Sponsorship by Assemblymember James Ramos: Assemblymember James Ramos, who sponsored AB 341, facilitated a historic consensus between tribes and cardrooms to garner bipartisan support for the bill.
Positive Industry Impact: Proponents of the bill emphasize that it will support measured growth in the cardroom industry without oversaturation over the next two decades.
Statements from Key Figures:
Keith Sharp, President of the California Cardroom Alliance: Keith Sharp praises the new law for offering smaller cardrooms the opportunity to expand over time, creating jobs and local economic benefits without overloading the gaming market.
Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin: Charles Martin highlights the overwhelming support from state legislators, tribes, and cardrooms, reflecting the voters’ consistent stance on responsible gaming and opposing excessive expansion.
Kyle Kirkland, President of the California Gaming Association: Kyle Kirkland commends legislative leaders for acknowledging the critical role of cardrooms in local economies and preserving jobs and tax revenues. He underlines that AB 341 maintains industry stability.
California’s extension of the cardroom license moratorium through AB 341 demonstrates the state’s commitment to responsible and sustainable gaming growth. The bill balances the interests of tribes and cardrooms while ensuring that the industry continues to benefit local communities and economies without over-expansion.