California Blackjack Ban to Start in April: What to Know

A new set of regulations regarding blackjack-style games and the rotation of player-dealers that were approved in California this past week and take effect beginning on April 1, 2026, applying only to the state's approximately 80 to 85 card rooms. Tribal-run casinos in California will continue to offer casino-style blackjack games. 

Both new regulations were approved by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) following numerous discussions and hearings held over the past year. 

The DOJ received 876 comments on the proposed Player-Dealer regulations, and 888 comments for the Blackjack regulations. After careful review and consideration of the comments, DOJ did not make any substantive changes to the proposed regulations. Responses were written to every comment and as required by law are provided along with the final regulations, which are available here and here.  The regulations were sent to OAL for review on December 23, 2025, which included 1,764 public comments and DOJ's responses to the comments. After the required period of review, on February 6, 2026, OAL approved the regulations. Posted along with the regulations are DOJ's responses to the 1,764 comments submitted by stakeholders.

California law since 2000 has given Native American casinos the exclusive right to offer blackjack games in which players compete against the house.  Card rooms have used player-dealers employed by a third party for blackjack-style games.

Tribal casinos in California operate under separate legal compacts and tribal sovereignty provisions.

Big Changes

• The player-dealer must be seated at the table at all times and the position must be offered to all players before every hand and player must be visible to security cameras.
• Each table must post the following notice: “Any player can assume the player-dealer position when it is offered. The player that assumes the player-dealer position cannot win or lose more than the amount they wager.”
• The role of player-dealer must rotate to “at least two players other than the TPPP every 40 minutes or the game shall end”.
• If the TPPP is serving as the player-dealer, the next rotation must be to another player.
• Additionally, TPPPs may accept and settle wagers only when they are serving as player-dealer.
• Only one TPPP would be permitted per table.
• Games would no longer be able to have a “bust” feature, where a player or dealer automatically loses if their total exceeds 21. Rather, wins and losses “shall be determined solely by whether the total points of a player’s hand is closer to the target point count when compared with the total points of the player-dealer’s hand”.
• The target point cannot be 21.
• In the event of a tie, or "push", players would win, instead of the call being non-action.
• No games will feature the words "21" or "blackjack" moving forward.

Public Outcry 

“Every time they want to shut down the place, they want to take blackjack-style games away; for me, I cannot handle that,” Nary Chin, a dealer at Gardens Casino, told iGB. “They tell you, ‘Oh, it’s just a job, you go there to make money.’ But it’s a job that cares. Without our card room, I don’t think I would be here today, honestly.”

Fresno's Club One owner Kyle Kirkland told The Fresno Bee on Wednesday that the ban could mean a drop in revenue that dramatically reduces his business’ tax contributions to the city of Fresno’s General Fund that average about $1 million annually. It could also eventually mean fewer jobs at Club One, as well as 500 Club.

“You’re talking about 500-600 working families in the county of Fresno immediately impacted by this,” said Kirkland, who is also president of the California Gaming Association.

The Biggest Impacts

• Los Angeles, CA -  Hollywood Park Casino, Hustler Casino, Bicycle Casino/Commerce will be impacted.  These are very popular establishments.  While tribal casinos do exist in Southern California, one must travel outside the city proper.  
• San Jose, CA - San Jose has major card rooms such as Bay 101 Casino and Casino M8trix.   The nearest tribal casino at Graton Resort & Casino near Rohnert Park in Sonoma County is some distance fro the city limits.
• Bakersfield, CA - The Golden West Casino (and other smaller card rooms) operate in Bakersfield.  There are no tribal casinos nearby.  A 20 minute drive is required to arrive at the Hard Rock Casino Tejon.

Cardroom owners and industry groups are mounting legal challenges. 

To be continued....

• Alejandro Botticelli, Gambling911.com