CALIFORNIA CONSIDERS SHUFFLING THE DECK

California is one of 48 states in the U.S. that has at least one form of legal gambling. Cardrooms: Existed since before statehood. There are 89 legal cardrooms in the state, with 1,800 tables. The state constitution limits what games can be offered; poker is the most popular one. Tribal casinos: Approved by voters in 1998 and 2000. There are 59 casinos run
by 58 tribes. In 2004, voters rejected a ballot initiative to expand tribal gambling but upheld four casino-expansion agreements in 2008.

State lottery: Passed with 58 percent of the vote in 1984. The lotterys 21,000 retailers sold $3 billion worth of tickets in 2009-10, of which $1.6 billion was for prizes and $1.1 billion went to education. Voters rejected a May 2009 measure to revamp the lottery and increase ticket sales.

Horse racing: Approved by voters in 1933 as a way to generate government

revenue during the Great Depression. There are five privately run racetracks and eight racing fairs. Voters rejected a 2004 initiative that would have allowed horse tracks and cardrooms to have slot machines.

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