California Card Rooms Threaten Legal Action Against Attorney General

Industry group claims new regulations would 'eliminate much of their business'

Feb. 6, 2026 at 9:55pm

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Card rooms across California are calling on Attorney General Rob Bonta to answer for new regulations they say were fast-tracked without proper notice or feedback. The California Gaming Association claims Bonta's office violated the law in pushing through rules that would outlaw popular table games like blackjack, threatening the existence of 70 card rooms statewide.

Why it matters

Card rooms are an important source of tax revenue and jobs in many California communities. The industry group argues the proposed regulations could devastate local economies if the businesses are forced to close.

The details

According to Kyle Kirkland, president of Fresno's Club One Casino and the California Gaming Association, the pending regulations from the Attorney General's office would target the majority of card rooms' business by outlawing blackjack and disrupting player-dealer games. Kirkland says the association believes Bonta violated the law by putting forth the regulations with the Office of Administrative Law in December without proper notice or opportunity for feedback from the industry and affected communities.

  • The regulations could go into effect as soon as April 2026.
  • The California Gaming Association and its members found out about the regulations on January 30, 2026.

The players

Rob Bonta

The Attorney General of California who has proposed new regulations that card rooms claim would devastate their industry.

Kyle Kirkland

The president of Fresno's Club One Casino and the California Gaming Association, which represents card rooms across the state.

California Gaming Association

An industry group representing the 70 card rooms in California, which is threatening legal action against the Attorney General over the proposed regulations.

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What they’re saying

“It's a serious problem for us and the 70 card rooms around the state that rely on these games.”

— Kyle Kirkland, President, Club One Casino and California Gaming Association (yourcentralvalley.com)

“Regulations that are outlawing blackjack and disrupting player-dealer games, which are basically all the table games that you see behind you.”

— Kyle Kirkland, President, Club One Casino and California Gaming Association (yourcentralvalley.com)

“Didn't really give notice, hasn't taken feedback from the community, certainly hasn't taken feedback from card rooms. There's a number of communities that are affected by this decision, these regulations, and frankly, it's just scary.”

— Kyle Kirkland, President, Club One Casino and California Gaming Association (yourcentralvalley.com)

“If the regulations went through and we didn't get legal relief, then our card room ceases to exist. And not only that, other card rooms around the state cease to exist.”

— Kyle Kirkland, President, Club One Casino and California Gaming Association (yourcentralvalley.com)

“It would jeopardize the community, jeopardize families, take away our way to take care of our families. It would be devastating.”

— Daolank Sayachack, Dealer and dealer coordinator, Club One Casino (yourcentralvalley.com)

What’s next

The California Gaming Association and its members plan to fight the regulations and the process to implement them in court. A judge will decide in the coming weeks whether to allow the regulations to go into effect as soon as April 2026.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the high stakes for California's card room industry, which claims the Attorney General's proposed regulations could devastate local economies and communities that rely on these businesses for tax revenue and jobs. The outcome of the legal challenge could have far-reaching implications for the future of card rooms across the state.