(a) In addition to other grounds stated in this chapter, the commission may deny a gambling license for any of the following reasons:
(1) If issuance of the license with respect to the proposed gambling establishment or expansion would tend unduly to create law enforcement problems in a city, county, or city and county other than the city, county, or city and county that has regulatory jurisdiction over the applicant’s premises.
(2) If an applicant fails to conduct an economic feasibility study that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commission that the proposed gambling establishment will be economically viable, and that the owners have sufficient resources to make the gambling establishment successful. The commission shall hold a public meeting for the purpose of reviewing the feasibility study. All papers, studies, projections, pro formas, and other materials filed with the commission pursuant to an economic feasibility study are public records and shall be disclosed to all interested parties.
(3) If issuance of the license is sought in respect to a new gambling establishment, or the expansion of an existing gambling establishment, that is to be located or is located near an existing school, an existing building used primarily as a place of worship, an existing playground or other area of juvenile congregation, an existing hospital, convalescence facility, or near another similarly unsuitable area, as determined by regulation of the commission, which is located in a city, county, or city and county other than the city, county, or city and county that has regulatory jurisdiction over the applicant’s gambling premises.
(b) For the purposes of this section, “expansion” means an increase of 25 percent or more in the number of authorized gambling tables in a gambling establishment, based on the number of gambling tables for which a license was initially issued pursuant to this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 45, Sec. 2. (AB 120) Effective January 1, 2022.)