Gambling: local moratorium.

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. Under the existing Gambling Control Act, a city, county, or city and county may authorize controlled gambling consistent with state law. Existing law prohibits, until January 1, 2020, the governing body and the electors of a city, county, or city and county that has not authorized legal gaming within its boundaries prior to January 1, 1996, from authorizing legal gaming. Existing law also prohibits, until January 1, 2020, an ordinance in effect on January 1, 1996, that authorizes legal gaming within a city, county, or city and county from being amended to expand gaming in that jurisdiction beyond that permitted on that effective date. This bill would instead make those prohibitions applicable until January 1, 2023. Existing law also prohibits, until January 1, 2020, the commission from issuing a gambling license for a gambling establishment that was not licensed to operate on December 31, 1999, except as specified. This bill would instead make that prohibition applicable until January 1, 2023.