Californians have long understood that the gaming industry serves the public good when operated responsibly. For decades, licensed cardrooms have been financial cornerstones of communities across California, providing economic stability via safe, regulated, lawful entertainment. These venues support thousands of jobs and generate millions in tax revenues that fund essential public services, including police, fire departments, parks, senior services, and libraries.
Despite this, tribal casinos have waged an aggressive campaign to eliminate cardrooms and other non-tribal gaming operators, and consolidate all California gaming under tribal control. In recent remarks, Victor Rocha, chairman of the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention, went so far as to say that potential competition should be “smothered in the crib” to maintain tribal dominance.
