CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

99

Introduced by Senator Grove

February 20, 2026

An act to amend Section 19850 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to gambling.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: no   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law, the Gambling Control Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of various legalized gambling activities and establishments by the California Gambling Control Commission and the investigation and enforcement of those activities and establishments by the Department of Justice. Existing law requires a person who, either as owner, lessee, or employee, deals, operates, carries on, conducts, maintains, or exposes for play a controlled game, or who receives, directly or indirectly, any compensation or reward, or any percentage or share of the money or property played, for keeping, running, or carrying on a controlled game to apply for and obtain from the commission, a valid state gambling license, key employee license, or work permit.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those license and work permit provisions.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 19850 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

19850.

Every A person who, either as owner, lessee, or employee, whether for hire or not, either solely or in conjunction with others, deals, operates, carries on, conducts, maintains, or exposes for play any a controlled game in this state, or who receives, directly or indirectly, any compensation or reward, or any percentage or share of the money or property played, for keeping, running, or carrying on any a controlled game in this state, shall apply for and obtain from the commission, and shall thereafter maintain, a valid state gambling license, key employee license, or work permit, as specified set out in this chapter. In any a criminal prosecution for a violation of this section, the punishment shall be as provided in Section 337j of the Penal Code.