Overhaul of Gambling Law Shelved a Year

Senate hearings on a bill that would overhaul the state’s century-old gambling law have been postponed for one year because of continuing disputes between law enforcement officials and operators of seven Southland card clubs.

An aide to state Sen. Robert G. Beverly (R-Manhattan Beach) confirmed this week that any action on the bill, which is in the Senate Governmental Organizational Committee, has been cancelled. A hearing had been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Beverly aide Josh Pane said.

“We’re going to hold it over for next year,” Pane said in a telephone interview. “The opponents just couldn’t get it together.”

Last month, the bill, which was drafted by lawyers for a coalition of Southland city managers, appeared destined for passage, Bell Gardens City Manager Claude Booker said. But a dispute over the legality of playing jackpot poker has since threatened its passage, he said.

Officials of the California Peace Officers Assn. contend that card club operators violate the state Lottery law by offering jackpots, which can be as high as $70,000. Jackpots are offered at the seven card clubs in Bell, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, Commerce and Gardena.

Sacramento lobbyist Joseph Gonzalvez, who represents the city manager coalition, said that Beverly has asked a legislative counsel to study the 5-year-old Lottery law and decide whether jackpot poker violates its provisions. A decision, he said, could come within a month.