California Gov. Gavin Newsom reinstated a 20-year ban on new cardrooms, signing the bipartisan legislation on May 22 to protect the state’s growing gaming industry from smaller gambling operations.
Sponsored by Assemblyman James Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Assembly Bill 341 prohibits the state from issuing new licenses but allows licensed cardrooms to operate fewer than 20 gaming tables and add up to 10 new tables over the next 20 years.
“I am happy to have brought the tribes and cardrooms together in a historic consensus that has resulted in the bipartisan AB 341 becoming law,” said Ramos, the state Assembly’s first California Native American and member of the San Manuel Indian Reservation. “I deeply appreciate Gov. Newsom’s support for AB 341, which will help ensure the vitality of the gaming industry by allowing for measured cardroom growth without overexpansion over the next 20 years.”…