California’s editorial boards are not mincing words when it comes to Senate Bill 549, which is sparking intense debate across the state. On August 20, the Los Angeles Daily News editorial board criticized the bill, asserting that it would “make a mockery of our judicial system.”
Introduced by state Senator Josh Newman in February 2023, SB 549, known as the Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act, seeks to alter a significant legal technicality. Currently, California tribes, recognized as sovereign nations, are immune from lawsuits. However, this bill would allow tribes to sue cardrooms over alleged violations of state law.
The passage of Prop 1A in 2000 granted tribes exclusive rights to operate house-banked card games, such as blackjack and baccarat, as well as slot machines in their casinos. Cardrooms, however, have found a way to offer modified versions of these games by using third-party player proposition services to act as the house.
SB 549 would empower tribes to challenge the legality of these cardroom games in court. If deemed unlawful, courts could issue injunctions, forcing cardrooms to cease offering them. “The politics here are fairly simple,” noted the Los Angeles Daily News editorial board. “The tribes want full control over California’s lucrative gambling markets. There’s a lot of money at stake, after all. On the other side are cardroom operators and local governments which benefit from the revenue generated by cardrooms.”
Legislative Progress and Growing Controversy
SB 549 is making significant strides in California’s legislative process. After passing the Senate in May 2023, the bill has rapidly advanced through the Assembly this summer. It received its second reading in the Assembly on August 20 and is now scheduled for a third reading.
The Los Angeles Daily News editorial board’s sharp criticism likely stems from the bill’s increasing momentum in the Assembly. With the potential to reshape the state’s gambling landscape, SB 549 has become a focal point of debate, pitting tribal interests against cardroom operators and raising concerns about the future of gambling in California.
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