California’s card rooms spend $3m to defeat three state legislators
Card room businesses are saying they want respect.
Key Points
- A law was passed that allows Tribal casinos to sue card rooms
- In response, the card rooms invested millions to go after those who helped the bill become law
A recent California gambling bill signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom has led gambling halls to retaliate against “a handful of lawmakers for their votes,” according to an Associated Press report.
The bill in question would allow card room competitors like Tribal casinos to file lawsuits against them.
The signed bill, Senate Bill 549, ended an expensive political fight during the most recent state legislative session.
Tribes can now petition a judge to rule on whether California’s card rooms are offering blackjack and pai gow poker card games illegally.
California’s Tribes claim they were given exclusive rights to host these table games by voters, the local report said.
However, Tribes around the state did not have the legal stand to sue because they were established sovereign nations.
The state’s card rooms spent close to $3m prior to last month’s election to oppose four California legislators “who play key roles in the bill’s passage,” according to the report.
The card rooms described the investment in three defeats as “money well spent.”
Hawaiian Gardens Casino’s attorney Keith Sharp told the AP that card rooms are seeking respect.
He went on to comment, “We really don’t want to be the sort of, you know, the Rodney Dangerfield of industries. We want to be respected.
“We (will) work hard to continue to gain respect and protect our employees, protect our cities, protect our businesses.”
Hawaiian Gardens Casino is a Los Angeles County card room.
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