Blackjack banned at California cardrooms under new rules

Yahoo ^ | February 10, 2026 | Brett Stover

[Leaning Right]

New regulations will bar cardrooms from offering blackjack and other player-dealer games — a move opponents say will devastate the industry in California.

Under one of the two new rules, cardrooms cannot offer blackjack, the world’s most popular casino card game. Players would no longer “bust” by exceeding 21 points, and cardrooms may not use the name “blackjack” or include the number 21.

[bobbo666]

Also possible that Vegas did this to move $$ back. Anyone who can afford BJack gambling can go to Vegas instead of piddling about in some Indian casino with corrupted rules.

Pi$$ on CaCaLand.

[FrankRizzo890]

I did software development for a company that made grey market casino games and blackjack was our most popular. We had a jurisdiction down in the caribbean that had outlawed the name “Blackjack”, and “any card game where the goal was to get closest to 21”. We renamed our game, and changed the goal to 22, and adjusted the pay tables. (This after a bunch of math to make sure we weren’t cheating either side TOO much).

I suspect the same thing will be done here.

[logi_cal869]

They should name it,

“Crackerjack”

/s

[Tymesup]

It should be Blackjack with a capital B. Or AfroAmerican or AfricanAmerican, I’m not sure which.

Jack is probably bad, too. Maybe jill is good. Or Toby or Lee. Or Jacquanda.

[cherry]

Indians get every advantage in Washington state...no taxes on any of the gas they sell..they tax people but they keep the tax money.

[atomic_dog]

Never been in a California casino. Every morning I transfer from the Light Rail to the bus and sit in front of one for 9 minutes or so. Full of people. I remember that line from Casino “In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose. In the end, we get it all.” and I feel sorry for them.

[BBB333]

Great story.

[Lazamataz]

• How many players can take part is not specified, but four is apparently the usual number. Judging from the way Kirk dealt the cards, dealing always progresses clockwise.
• Each player gets six cards, except for the player on the dealer's right, who gets seven.
• The second card is turned up, except on Tuesdays.
• Two jacks are a "half-fizzbin."
• If you have a half-fizzbin:
• A third jack is a "sralk" and results in disqualification, however if the jack is dealt on progress towards a royal fizzbin, it is considered a very lucky hand;
• One wants a king and a deuce, except at night, when one wants a queen and a four;
• If a king had been dealt, the player would get another card, except when it is dark, in which case he would have to forfeit that card.
• The top hand is a "royal fizzbin," but the odds against getting one are said to be "astronomical." Spock admitted, "I've never computed them."

[Dr. Sivana]

Fizbin is obviously a 23rd century version of Kleebob (aka Mogul). Kleebob was invented by George Burns to confuse Gracie and Blanche so that they cannot play and then George and Harry can go to see the fights instead of going to the movies with the girls. In it, such rules include declarations and plays such as "Moolah", "Flinch", "Broadway", and "Mumfers", (which is an especially strong play if in Diamonds). There are revolving queens and spinning jacks.

Typical play:

Harry: 5 of clubs
George: 8 of spades, I dribbled, give me 1,400 points.

I believe that William Shatner (who suggested the idea) had seen the Burns and Allen skit, which was part of the first episode of their popular show.
https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/141898/is-there-a-source-for-fizzbin