Gambling-Related Legislation Chaptered in 2024
Changes to the law become effective January 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified.
GAMBLING CONTROL ACT
This bill amends the Business and Professions Code (BPC) in two ways: (1) amends BPC section 19859(d) to a establish parity for applicants with out-of-state misdemeanor convictions, authorizing the California Gambling Control Commission (Commission) to treat equally applicants with convictions for certain misdemeanor crimes, regardless of where those convictions occurred; and (2) amends BPC sections 19878, 19879, 19882, and 19892 to allow the Commission discretion to waive some consequences of denial for applicants denied a license for solely technical reasons.
TRIBAL
This bill, an urgency measure, for the 2-year period from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025, suspends the payment or collection of any quarterly payments required to be made by any gaming tribe to the Special Distribution Fund pursuant to a tribal-state gaming compact, and additionally required the commission to refund any quarterly payment due during that time period that was already made. As an urgency measure, the bill's provisions became effective immediately upon the Governor's signature on July 15, 2024. Refunds were issued on September 3, 2024, and October 19, 2024.
AB 2032 (Chapter 304, Statues of 2024, Jim Patterson) – Tribal Gaming: Compact Ratification
The bill, an urgency measure, ratified a new tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians of California, executed on January 16, 2024. The bill provides that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions related to this compact are not projects for the purposes of CEQA. As an urgency measure, this bill's provisions were immediately effective upon the Governor's signature on September 20, 2024.
AB 2656 (Chapter 313, Statues of 2024, Ramos) – Tribal Gaming: Compact Ratification
This bill, an urgency measure, ratified the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Table Mountain Rancheria, executed on November 1, 2023. The bill provides that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions related to this compact are not projects for purposes of CEQA. As an urgency measure, this bill's provisions were immediately effective upon the Governor's signature on September 20, 2024.
AB 3276 (Chapter 319, Statues of 2024, Ramos) – Tribal Gaming: Compact Ratification
This bill, an urgency measure, ratified the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Tule River Indian Tribe of California, executed on June 25, 2024. The bill provides that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions related to this compact are not projects for purposes of CEQA. As an urgency measure, this bill's provisions were immediately effective upon the Governor's signature on September 20, 2024.
SB 549 (Chapter 860, Statutes of 2024, Newman) – Gaming: Tribal Nations Access to Justice
This bill authorizes a California Indian tribe, under certain conditions, to bring an action solely against licensed California card clubs and third-party proposition player services providers to seek a declaration as to whether a controlled game operated by a licensed California card club and banked by a third-party proposition player services provider constitutes a banking card game that violates state law, including tribal gaming rights under the constitutional provisions described above, and to request injunctive relief. The bill requires that any review of such a challenge be conducted de novo. The bill prohibits a claim for money damages, penalties, or attorney's fees and would require that actions be filed no later than April 1, 2025, as specified. The bill clarifies that it does not intend to authorize an action, or otherwise impose any liability, against the state and would prohibit a court from issuing a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order under certain circumstances.
SB 931 (Chapter 320, Statues of 2024, Dodd) – Tribal Gaming: Compact Ratification
This bill, an urgency measure ratified the tribal-state gaming compacts entered into between the State of California and the Campo Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Campo Indian Reservation, California, the La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the La Posta Indian Reservation, California, the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, and the Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank Rancheria, California, and amendments to the tribal-state gaming compacts entered into between the State of California and the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, California, the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California, and the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, California. The bill provides that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions related to these compacts are not projects for the purposes of CEQA. As an urgency measure, this bill's provisions were immediately effective upon the Governor's signature on September 20, 2024.
OTHER GAMING
SB 1044 (Chapter 128, Statues of 2024, Seyarto) – Bingo: overhead costs
This bill, beginning January 1, 2025, increases the monthly limit on bingo overhead costs to $3,000 per month, increased annually by the annual average percentage in the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the preceding calendar year.
