California Gambling Control Commission

Every state requires ongoing legislation of gambling activities within its borders. These are typically supervised by governmental departments or some form of non-governmental agencies that exist to support the oversight of a specific industry. In California, this body is formally known as the California Gambling Control Commission. Their role is to provide licensing requirements for casinos throughout the state and ensure that those licensees remain in complete compliance with all applicable laws.

The commission works with gaming establishments to promote responsible gambling and advertises phone numbers of support groups for players who may be in over their heads. At such time that state-regulated online casino gambling is embraced in California, it is likely that this agency will also oversee this industry as well.

They do not have any authority over the legal online California casinos recommended in this guide that are based outside of the United States. The governing jurisdictions which administer the oversight for these sites are responsible for the compliance standards and the auditing of their California online casino games.

Another role that the California Gambling Control Commission takes very seriously is the public participation at local and statewide events. Residents ranging from casino workers to Native American leaders and politicians turn out to express their support or dissatisfaction.

The Commission frequently holds public forums and offers training classes for recently changed or updated regulations that affect the gaming community. Every effort is made to ensure the relevant parties are aware of upcoming changes and that employers and casino management teams know how to enforce new policies and procedures.

The California Department of Justice also plays an important role within the gaming industry and utilizes the Bureau of Gambling Control to enforce regulations handed down by the Office of the Attorney General. The division began to form in 1994 when the Gaming Registration Act was created for the purpose of developing new and consistent policies for all gaming establishments.

Bars, restaurants, and even convenience stores were offering public payouts to patrons who played slot machines on the premises. These unregulated machines were promptly taken out of circulation and only legal machines that were offered to licensed vendors were permitted to offer cash payouts.

The major overhaul took several years to complete and, in the beginning, created more problems than solutions. Vendors scrambled to obtain the licenses required to remain in compliance with the law, but inspectors designated by the state were unable to keep up with the high demand for the entertainment vending licenses.

Most of the machines that were still in circulation did not yet have the required permits and inventory control number assigned to them, but the Commission could do little to assess fines and penalties to the owners. Over time, the system began to balance itself and the new gambling regulations were peacefully enforced. The public dissention gradually slowed from an outcry to a murmur and bars, bingo halls, and casinos grew to strive for compliance with the regulations.

Continuous reviews of the regulations allow for period changes to the Native American compacts, new growth of casinos, and even the potential inclusion of online casino regulation from within the state of California. Aside from requiring permits and enforcing licensing and permit laws, the Commission also regulates everything from smoking policies to the number and size of new casinos built within each geographical location.

The past two decades have been witness to a host of new policies and procedures in the gaming industry that are meant to protect the institutions and the gamblers who enjoy them. You can learn more about this agency by visiting the California Gambling Control Commission Official Website.