The Coalition to Protect Cardroom Communities collected 1,050 signatures from California residents. They’re pushing Attorney General Rob Bonta to pull back regulations he proposed in May 2025.
The group includes cardroom workers, small business owners and local residents who depend on these gaming venues. Business organisations and community advocates joined them too.
Protests happened outside Bonta’s office in late 2025. Cardroom employees showed up alongside city officials and community members. The coalition formed after those demonstrations gained momentum across the state.
Why These Regulations Threaten California Communities
The regulations target close to 80 licensed cardrooms operating in California. These venues currently work under strict state gaming oversight. But the new rules could shut many of them down.
“The state’s own review says these new rules would hurt cardrooms,” said Frank Patalano, a patron at Stones Gambling Hall. He visits the venue regularly for games and food near his home. It’s part of his routine.
Cities worry the regulations favour tribal casinos and illegal gambling operations. The balance of gaming would shift away from regulated cardrooms. That’s a problem when local governments depend on cardroom tax revenue for public services.
What the Coalition Says Will Happen
The coalition claims the regulations would “devastate local economies, eliminate thousands of middle-class jobs and undermine city budgets.” Cardroom workers face losing their livelihoods.
Cities could lose significant revenue streams.
Patalano explained the community impact simply. “These rules wouldn’t just push out cardrooms for no good reason, they’d hurt the people who work there and the cities that rely on the revenue.” He’s been going to Stones for years because it’s close to home.
The coalition plans to recruit thousands more California residents to sign the petition. They want pressure on Bonta to increase before any final decisions happen on the proposed rules.
How This Affects California’s Gaming Landscape
California’s cardroom industry operates under some of the nation’s strictest gaming standards already. The new regulations would add another layer that many establishments can’t handle financially. Local business owners see the rules as unnecessary.
They believe existing oversight already keeps cardrooms properly regulated. Adding more restrictions just creates barriers without clear benefits.
Cities that host cardrooms depend on the tax revenue for local services. Police departments, fire services and public works all benefit from these funds. Losing cardrooms means finding new revenue sources or cutting services.
The coalition represents workers who earn middle-class wages from cardroom jobs. Those positions would disappear if venues close, and there’s no guarantee tribal casinos would hire the displaced workers or that illegal operations would follow any rules at all.
