A new proposal to ban blackjack in California has cardroom owners and employees alike saying the change in regulations will put thousands of people out of work, and cost state and local governments millions of dollars while creating a monopoly for Indian gaming casinos.

By mid-to-late 2026, new rules from the California Department of Justice could ban blackjack from cardrooms. The department’s analysis of the impact estimates about 50% loss of revenue for those cardrooms, which Club One Casino President Kyle Kirkland says would force him to close his Fresno cardroom.

“Those regulations as presented would basically put us out of business,” Kirkland said. “It has a big impact on us, our people, and frankly the city of Fresno and the city of Clovis.”

The state Department of Justice says th

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