Report Prepared by: Kenneth Rozell, Senior Deputy City Attorney
Title
SUBJECT: Cardrooms
REPORT IN BRIEF
Provides a brief overview of existing City cardroom regulations and outlines potential areas of modification that the City Council may consider, if desired.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council take public testimony regarding cardrooms and either:
A. Provide direction to staff regarding any proposed modifications to the City's existing cardroom regulations; or,
B. Take no further action regarding this matter.
Body
AUTHORITY
City of Merced Charter, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
Background
At the City Council meeting on February 1, 2016, the City Council directed that staff place an item on the agenda regarding cardrooms.
Currently, two cardrooms are located in the City of Merced - Poker Flats Casino and the Merced Poker Room. Under City regulations, no additional cardrooms can be located within the City without approval of a majority of the voters of the City. (Merced Municipal Code Section 9.08.020(D).)
In addition, under existing City regulations, "[n]o person shall operate a cardroom with more than four card tables. There shall be no more than eight (8) card tables in the city." (Merced Municipal Code Section 9.08.020(D).)
Finally, City regulations currently prohibit "any single bet or wager in excess of three hundred dollars ($300.00) or at any time during any game to permit an ante in excess of two hundred dollars ($200.00) total sum anted by players participating in the game." (Merced Municipal Code Section 9.08.020(E).)
Discussion
Without approval by a majority of the voters of the City, the City Council cannot allow an increase in the number of cardrooms within the City. If desired, however, the City Council may increase the number of card tables in the City from eight card tables to 16 tables without voter approval. This is based upon the fo...
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