CALIFORNIA GAMING LAW ATTORNEY

SERVICES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS, COMPETITION & REGULATED MARKETS

Image of Lawyer Working SERVICES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS, COMPETITION & REGULATED MARKETS

SERVICES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS, COMPETITION & REGULATED MARKETS

ABOUT

David Fried is a gambling law attorney.  For over twenty-five years David has represented gaming companies, casinos and card rooms in gambling licensing and regulatory proceedings before the California Gambling Control Commission and the Bureau of Gambling Control.  He has testified before the Legislature on California gambling law and internet gaming, helped draft the 2009 revision to the California Gambling Control Act, and is a member of the California Gaming Policy Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations to the Gambling Control Commission.  David also provides services for card room and casino operations, games, promotions, and compliance.

SERVICES

Helping You Navigate Regulatory, Legal and Business Challenges

Gambling and Administrative Law
Gambling and Administrative Law

Gambling Licensing & Hearings

Casino Operations & Compliance

Business Counsel for Gaming Companies

Gambling Law, Regulation & Legislation

CALIFORNIA GAMBLING LAW GUIDE

 

The California Constitution, Article IV, Section 19, generally prohibits casinos of the type operating in Nevada and New Jersey.  However, constitutional amendments together with legislation have created many distinct categories of regulated and legal gambling.

 

1)   Card Clubs offer poker games and table games, like Three Card Poker, Baccarat and Pai Gow.  The card clubs are not allowed to operate banked games.  Penal Code 330.  Instead, the players can take turns being the player-dealer and bet on the dealer hand against the other players, rather than wagering against the casino.  Penal Code 330.11.  Four Court of Appeal decisions have held that player-dealer games are not banking games. Sullivan v. Fox, 189 Cal. App. 3d 673, 678 (1987); Bell Gardens v. City of Los Angeles, 231 Cal. App .3d 1563, 1568 (1991); Huntington Park v. Cty. of Los Angeles, 206 Cal. App. 3d 241, 250 (1988); Walker v. Meehan, 194 Cal. App. 3d 1290 (1987).  The card rooms are regulated by an independent state commission, the California Gambling Control Commission, and by the Bureau of Gambling Control in the Department of Justice. 

2)   Tribal Casinos.  Tribal Casinos have compacts or agreements with the State of California under which tribal casinos can operate slot machines and house banked card games.  Cal. Const. Art. IV, Sec. 19(f).  Tribal casinos are largely self-regulated, but the National Indian Gaming Commission provides training and technical assistance to tribal regulatory agencies, and approves tribal gaming ordinances and management agreements.

3)   Parimutuel Horse Racing.  Horse racing is legal and there are also advance deposit wagering companies that take online horse wagers.   Horse racing and ADW is regulated by the California Horse Racing Board.

4)   There is a California State Lottery.  All other lotteries and promotions that contain the elements of a lottery (prize, chance and consideration) are prohibited under Penal Code 319.

5)   Charities are permitted to offer bingo games.

6)   Raffles are permitted under prescribed rules, including raffles sponsored by sports teams.

7)   Sweepstakes and contests are permitted. BPC 17539-17539.3, 17539.35.

8)  The laws allows card games played in private residences if no person makes money for operating the game, except as a player. Penal Code 337j.

9)  Slot machines are illegal.  Penal Code 330a and 337t.

10)  Sports Wagering is illegal.  Penal Code 337a.

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