Officials at California card rooms say that new rules proposed by the state’s Bureau of Gambling Control could cause them to lose customers, and even cause some establishments to shut down.
Card rooms can offer only player-banked games, in which players are technically competing against each other, not the venue itself. An employee of the card room still acts as the dealer, but someone at the table collects losing bets and pays out the winners.
Instead of one full-time banker, each player at the table would be required to act as the banker, with that role switching every two rounds. Any player who refuses to take their time as the banker will not be allowed to play in the game. If there is nobody who wants to be the banker, then the game must stop.
Now a days California card rooms can offer versions of some casino table games like baccarat, pai gow poker, and blackjack, though state gaming regulations require they play slightly differently than they would at a typical resort.
