Gambling: local moratorium.

Existing law, the Gambling Control Act, establishes the California Gambling Control Commission, which is responsible for licensing and regulating various gambling activities and establishments. Existing law requires the Department of Justice to investigate any violations of, and to enforce, the act. Under the act, a city, county, or city and county may authorize controlled gambling consistent with state law. Existing law prohibits, until January 1, 2023, the governing body or 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, 2023, 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 January 1, 1996. This bill would extend those prohibitions until January 1, 2024. Existing law also prohibits, until January 1, 2023, 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 also extend that prohibition until January 1, 2024.