There’s major gambling news out of California, and it directly affects cardrooms and poker players across the state.
Earlier this week, the California Department of Justice ruled that blackjack can no longer be dealt the way it has been for years inside California cardrooms.
That may sound minor. It isn’t. That may sound confusing. It is.
What changed?
For decades, California cardrooms have operated under a specific structure approved by the state’s Department of Justice. This ruling allowed blackjack-style games to be offered without technically violating state law.
It was a workaround, but a state-approved one.
The tribal casinos have been arguing for years that the ‘workaround’ that allows blackjack to be played in California is being misinterpreted, and it should be deemed illegal.
Subsequently, the DOJ has determined that the way many of these blackjack games have been structured is no longer compliant.
How will this affect the Golden State’s cardrooms?
The blackjack ruling in California is definitely a story worth following for all of us who hold poker near and dear to our hearts.
If the blackjack law in California changes to bend to the tribal casino’s interpretation, it would make things more expensive in the cardrooms you might frequent regularly.
I break down the legislation and why you should care about the outcome in our latest video:
- Why is the DOJ now siding with the tribal casinos regarding the dealing of blackjack in the state?
- What is California Penal Code 330?
- When do CA cardrooms have to halt all blackjack games?
- Is a public vote required?
- How are the cardrooms fighting back to delay and change this ruling?
- How does this impact the poker players in California?
Crush the play button above to get right into it.
Justin Hammer is the Live Events Director for PokerAtlas, online Tournament Director for the Texas-based poker app Hijack, and a Tournament Director for Thunder Valley Casino Resort. He also brings his expertise as a consultant and minority owner of Desert Bluffs Casino in Kennewick, Washington.
For more info visit PokerAtlas.com, HijackPoker.com, and bluffs.poker. Follow Justin on X.
