Gambling control.

Existing law establishes the California Gambling Control Commission, prescribes the requirements for obtaining a gambling license, and defines a gambling establishment or licensed premises for these purposes. Existing law prohibits a contract for the sale or lease of real or personal property that requires the approval or licensing of the transferee by the commission from specifying a closing date earlier than 90 days after the submission of the completed application for approval or licensing to the commission. This bill would, instead, prohibit a contract for the sale or lease of real or personal property from specifying a closing date that is prior to the approval or licensing of the transferee by the commission. The bill also would require a contract for the sale of a gambling enterprise to state whether any outstanding gaming chips from the seller will be honored by the purchaser, and, if the contract does not require the purchaser to honor the outstanding gaming chips, to indicate what provisions have been made for the redemption of those chips. The bill would require the seller to give notice to patrons to provide an adequate opportunity for the redemption of gaming chips. The bill would require the Department of Justice to determine the amount of the outstanding gaming chip liability, and would require the seller to satisfy the commission that the amount of liability is safeguarded by security sufficient to satisfy the redemption of outstanding gaming chips. Existing law requires the department to approve the play of any controlled game, including, but not limited to, placing restrictions and limitations on how a controlled game is played. This bill would provide that a gambling enterprise that conducts play of a controlled game that has been approved by the department, but is later found to be unlawful, has an absolute defense to any criminal, administrative, or civil action provided the game was being played in the manner approved during the time for which it was approved, and play ceases upon notice that the game has been found unlawful. The bill would provide that the gambling enterprise has the burden, in any enforcement action, of proving the department approved the controlled game and that the game was played in the manner approved.