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The California Gaming Association has new leadership. Tej Baath was announced as the organization’s new executive director on Monday.
Baath, formerly the associate executive director for marketing, membership, and technology at the California Lawyers Association, will lead the CGA, which dubs itself “the definitive voice of the state’s cardroom industry” per its website.
The organization’s press release cast him as ready to lead the organization as it “navigates a critical period for the California cardroom industry.”
It’s a pivotal time because of a February decision announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The California Office of Administrative Law had approved new cardroom regulations specifically targeting blackjack-style and player-dealer games in cardrooms.
The CGA estimates the regulations, which went into effect on April 1, would jeopardize half of the state’s cardroom jobs and drastically reduce tax revenue for cities that rely on cardrooms for funding essential services.
A pivotal moment
The CGA says it is a trade association of licensed cardrooms and vendors, “which strives to improve and promote conditions in the California cardroom industry while providing a safe gaming experience for customers.”
Its website notes that 72 cardrooms are currently in operation statewide, including the world’s largest cardroom: within the Commerce Casino in the Los Angeles suburb of Commerce, boasting more than 240 tables.
The CGA incorporates legislative advocacy, as well as coordination with state agencies on regulatory efforts, in its duty to protect the cardroom industry.
Baath recognizes that his appointment comes at a critical time.
“This is a pivotal moment for the industry and for the California Gaming Association. My experience has focused on driving growth, modernizing operations, and delivering exceptional value to members, and I look forward to bringing that same focus to the CGA. The opportunity ahead is to strengthen the organization, expand its impact across the industry, and ensure the CGA is positioned for long-term growth on behalf of its members.”
New rules could cripple industry
The new rules include requiring cardrooms to facilitate a player rotation to function as the bank against the remaining players at the table, not being allowed to bill games as “blackjack” or “21,” not being allowed to apply bust rules (in which a player or dealer automatically loses by exceeding a count), or not allowing an ace and a second card with a value of 10 to count as an automatic win.
CGA indicated it would fight the new regulations in court when the announcement was made; the move is seen as a way to protect California tribes’ exclusive hold on casino-style gambling.
CGA President Kyle Kirkland said Baath is the right leader at the right time.
“Tej brings exactly the kind of leadership experience that will strengthen the CGA and position it for the future. He has a proven track record of building organizations from the inside out while modernizing operations, growing membership engagement, and delivering measurable results. At a critical moment for our industry, his ability to execute will be invaluable to the CGA and to our cardroom members across California.”
