A San Francisco Superior Court judge has invalidated controversial gambling regulations adopted by California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Bureau of Gambling Control, ruling the agency exceeded its legal authority in attempting to restrict certain card games offered at licensed cardrooms throughout the state.
In a decision issued Monday, Judge Richard Darwin concluded the Bureau lacked the authority to impose statewide restrictions on table games that have been offered by California cardrooms for decades. The ruling prevents the regulations from taking effect and preserves the current operation of licensed cardrooms while any appeals are considered.
The regulations would have significantly limited or prohibited several popular card games played at licensed cardrooms across California.
