CALIFORNIA—California Attorney General Rob Bonta is moving to overhaul how blackjack is played in the state’s licensed cardrooms. His proposal calls for eliminating the long-used third-party banking model, replacing it with strict limits on who can deal and how hands are managed. The changes would affect dozens of small and mid-sized rooms that rely on a format Bonta now wants to scrap.
For more than two decades, California cardrooms have operated under a structure where independent businesses, known as third-party proposition players, serve as the house. This workaround, initially designed to comply with state laws that bar house-banked games outside of tribal casinos, has become central to how many rooms operate.
Players Drift Toward Online Tables With Fewer Rules
While the state considers clamping down on in-person blackjack formats, online alternatives, particularly international ones, continue to attract California players. These overseas platforms don’t follow state-imposed limits and regularly offer blackjack games that feel more relaxed and player-driven. Many now accept low buy-ins, with 10-dollar deposit options common across reputable sites highlighted by gambling industry expert Wilna van Wyk. The ease of access, paired with fewer restrictions, makes them appealing to casual gamblers who want variety without the added oversight.
Local cardrooms, already dealing with competitive pressure, are now watching traffic migrate online as younger players grow comfortable with digital-first options.
State Wants to Kill the Current Banking System
Bonta’s plan directly targets the structure that keeps California cardrooms in business. At the moment, rooms can hire third-party proposition player services (TPPPS) to handle bets, essentially acting as the “bank.” Players then take turns wagering against the bank, and the room collects a fixed rake.
Under the new proposal, the state would prevent any individual, whether a player or contractor, from banking more than two consecutive hands. That shift would force games to either stop or rotate constantly, making it nearly impossible to run tables smoothly. The state says it’s trying to bring more uniformity to cardroom gambling. Operators argue it’s a backdoor attempt to cripple their core business.
Industry Response Signals Trouble Ahead
Cardroom operators are not staying quiet. Several have already pushed back in private meetings and have begun organizing formal opposition through legal and lobbying channels. Their concern isn’t just with game flow. It’s also economic. Many of these rooms operate on slim margins and employ hundreds of workers in cities that rely on cardroom revenue.
If the state imposes these rules without giving rooms a realistic way to adapt, some businesses say closures are inevitable. Others warn that players will simply leave for tribal casinos or international sites that aren’t subject to these restrictions.
Conclusion
AG Bonta’s plan doesn’t read like a policy adjustment. It reads like a forced redesign. It ignores how California’s cardrooms actually operate and assumes players will stick around for slower, more regulated gameplay. That may not be the case. While lawmakers debate what’s fair, players are already voting with their clicks. Right now, it’s the international tables with fewer rules and lower deposit barriers that are getting their attention.
