Card Clubs are one of California’s oldest forms of legal gambling.
In 2008, only 91 Card rooms were licensed compared to 150 in 1999. A small percentage are large, the remainder small mom and pop operations scattered throughout the State.
Historically, card clubs were regulated by local governments.
Beginning in the mid-1980s the State gradually increased its regulatory oversight. The stated primary purpose of this increased oversight in California and elsewhere has been to attempt to prevent criminal activity from being associated with these businesses.
In 1998, then Attorney General Daniel Lungren and Senate Pro Tem Bill Lockyer introduced and passed the California Gambling Control Act. (SB 8 was enacted; the language is in Business and Professions Code: 19800 – 19887) The Act developed the California Gambling Control Commission and the Bureau of Gambling Control in the California Department of Justice. The Commission and the Bureau are responsible for the development of policy, regulatory oversight and enforcement of the States gaming laws at California card clubs.
Excerpt from “Cardroom History” by: Communities 4 California cardrooms
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