California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Monday legislation to reinstate a moratorium on cardroom expansion in the Golden State. As a result of AB 341, no new cardrooms will be allowed in the state for 20 years. But small existing cardrooms can increase table games modestly over time.
A cardroom moratorium, in place for 25 years, was allowed to expire at the beginning of this year. The new law is retroactive to Jan. 1, squashing any plans to take advantage of the opening for cardroom expansion.
The agreement is a rare example of California Indian tribes and cardrooms working together.
Asm. James Ramos, the only Native American in the California legislature, sponsored the bill, which received near-unanimous support in the legislature (Assembly 68-1, Senate 32-0).
