Written by:
Gambling in the USA is so widely spread that it is one of the most typical activities when it comes down to entertainment. From Las Vegas to Atlantic City – there are plenty of states where the tribal casinos, the card rooms and the bingo games are legal, and therefore, they need a strict regulation on a state level. For instance, similar to the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement, the state of California also has an official regulatory authority. It comes to the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) which together with the CBGC (part of the California Department of Justice) is responsible for the licensing and regulation of the Indian casinos and card rooms in the state. We will tell you more details about the mission and responsibilities of this organisation but first, check out its scope of activities in the next section.
Scope of California Gambling Control Commission
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established: | 1997 |
| Appointed by: | The Governor of CA |
| Members: | 5 |
| Primary Scope: | Card rooms, tribal casinos, bingo organisations |
| Number of Jurisdictions: | 150+ (Indian casinos and Card rooms) |
| Employees: | 70+ |
| Regulated by: | The Gambling Control Act (1997) |
| Official Website: | www.cgcc.ca.gov |
Currently, the commission has jurisdiction over 150 card rooms and Indian casinos in the state. The scope of the California Gambling Control Commission also includes a few charitable organisations that offer bingo games but the majority of jurisdictions includes card rooms and casinos. The total number of regulated games is quite huge, for instance, as of 2018, only the tribal casinos operated more than 65,000 Class III gaming devices. In terms of card rooms, you should know that although online poker is illegal in the US, many players choose to play at international websites and there were numerous trials from California senators to legalise online poker and other online games. If you prefer to go online, then you should take a pick of the best casino sites in the United States and rest assured that you will play at a safe and reliable operator. Otherwise, you should always play at card rooms or tribal casinos licensed by the Gambling Control Commission in California! You will find a few interesting details about the CGCC in the table below.
Do you know which are the California Gambling Control Commission regulations imposed on casino operators? Well, they are many and we will talk about only the main regulations as an overview. First and foremost, the CGCC is authorised by the state Department of Justice to establish regulatory standards or means for regulating the gambling industry. Secondly, it ensures that the issued statewide gambling licences are held by qualified operators by examining their activities, reputation and other factors.
The scope of the California Gambling Control Commission includes various initiatives to ensure the righteous implementation of these minimum standards and requirements in the gambling industry. The commission is not directly responsible for law enforcement activities or criminal investigations. By contrast, it issues work permits, for example, to gambling personnel in card rooms and it determines the qualification of licence applicants. Here is a list with the main responsibilities of the commission:
- Implements the Gambling Control Act by issuing temporary licences and permits.
- Conduct audits and defines if the operators are eligible for issuing a gambling licence.
- Recommends licence denials, sets policy and assesses ownership changes.
- Controls various gambling funds and handles financial reports.
CGCC and History of Gambling in California
One of the most important regulatory organisations of the gambling industry in California certainly has a long and impressive historical background, too. It all starts from the late 19th century when in 1984 began the regulation of the gambling establishments under the Gaming Registration Act. After years of disputes between states and Indian tribes over gaming, in 1988 the President signed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) which put into regulation all the Indian casinos and gaming rooms.
The Gambling Control Act was introduced in 1997 as a replacement of the act from 1984. That’s the time when the five-member California Gambling Control Commission was founded together with the Bureau of Gambling Control. The two main regulatory bodies of the gambling industry in the state were also supplemented by several other organisations. Examples include the State Lottery Commission and the State Racing Board, as well as socially responsible organisations such as the Office of Problem Gambling.
As of 2012, the CGCC played a major role in the regulation and licensing of two main types of operators: Indian casinos and card rooms. Nowadays, it keeps playing an important role in the issuing of licences for casino operators and there is information that the online poker sites will be licensed, too. Hopefully, we will see some of the top online casinos in the US also licenced by the CGCC shortly. Now you know more about the Gambling Control Commission of California and before the end of this blog post, make also sure to check out a short FAQ section with a little bit more interesting information.
CGCC & FAQs
These are the most frequently asked questions about the California Gambling Control Commission and its responsibilities. If you want to learn more, please check out the official website of the commission.
