Three California cardroom associations filed a lawsuit Friday against state Attorney General Rob Bonta for banning blackjack and making changes to other card games in what they describe as an “unprecedented power grab.”

Beginning April 1, blackjack will no longer be legal under Bonta’s interpretation of a 19th century state law. Department of Justice regulations also restrict how cardrooms play other player-dealer games.

The California Gaming Association, the California Cardroom Alliance, and the Communities for California Cardrooms, however, say the decisions will negatively impact their businesses and municipal tax revenues. The lawsuit seeks to overturn the regulations.

Kyle Kirkland, president of the gaming association and owner of Club One Casino in Fresno, said in a statement that Bonta’s regulations reverse decades of “settled law” and ignore the economic impact of eliminating the game.

“Attorney General Bonta’s regulations threaten to eliminate more than half of California’s cardroom jobs and wipe out a critical source of revenue for dozens of cities,” Kirkland said. “These games have operated legally for decades under multiple attorneys general, yet one public official is now moving to shut them down without identifying a single public safety concern or addressing the 1,764 public comments about these regulations.”

Loss of Blackjack Will Hurt City Budgets

Blackjack has been approved for cardroom play under six different attorneys general, the lawsuit states.

Kirkland previously told GV Wire that Bonta’s interpretation of state law comes after a push from Native American gaming casinos. The lawsuit contends that the Department of Justice’s regulations “lack any factual basis” and were adopted despite strong opposition from cities, workers, and the cardrooms.

Politico reported in October 2025 that tribal communities contributed at least $101,500 to Bonta from 2023 to summer 2024.

Losing blackjack would likely eliminate at least 50% of cardroom jobs and revenue, forcing many to close, according to the attorney general’s assessment. That would impact many cities that rely on that tax revenue.

The state Department of Justice says the 86 licensed cardrooms across the state could together lose $396 million. It also estimates that 25% of the revenue would divert to Indian gaming casinos, which aren’t affected by the rule change.

The justice department also says about 18,000 people work in cardrooms statewide, generating $730 million in wages and benefits, and contributing $3 billion to overall economic activity.

In Fresno, Club One contributes about $1 million annually to the city’s general fund, with the taxes typically going to senior and youth programs, and public safety.

In a letter to the attorney general, the city of San Jose said revenues fund police, fire, and 911 operations, according to the gaming association’s news release.

The city of Commerce will put a 1/4-cent sales tax on the June ballot to make up for cardroom losses.