Chapter 6
CARD ROOMS

Sections:

5-6.01    License required.

5-6.02    License fee.

5-6.03    Number of tables limited.

5-6.04    Minors prohibited.

5-6.05    Hours of operation.

5-6.06    Security measures.

5-6.07    Location of card rooms.

5-6.08    Wagering limits.

5-6.09    Tournaments, special events, or irregular operations.

5-6.10    Number of card tables permitted.

5-6.11    Concurrent regulation with state of California.

5-6.12    Revocation of license: Appeals.

5-6.01 License required.

It shall be unlawful for any person, for himself or for any other person, to engage in, carry on, maintain, or conduct, or cause to be engaged in, carried on, maintained or conducted, any card room in the City without first having paid the fee and obtaining a license to do so from the Watsonville Police Department.

(§ 1, Ord. 546 N.C.S., as amended by § 1, Ord. 1063-99 C-M, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.02 License fee.

In addition to any other fee or license required by this Code or State law, every holder of a license to operate a card room shall pay to the City Finance Department a license fee in the amount of Two Hundred Dollars ($200) semi-annually, payable in advance on the first day of January and the first day of July of each year for each card table therein.

(§ 1, Ord. 546 N.C.S., as amended by § 1, Ord. 928-93 C-M, eff. August 26, 1993, and § 1, Ord. 1063-99 C-M, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.03 Number of tables limited.

It shall be unlawful for any card room operator to permit more than five (5) card tables in any one card room.

(§ 1, Ord. 546 N.C.S., as amended by § 1, Ord. 1063-99, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.04 Minors prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any card room operator to allow any person under the age of twenty-one (21) in or about any card room.

(§ 2, Ord. 546 N.C.S., as amended by § 1, Ord. 1063-99 C-M, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.05 Hours of operation.

It shall be unlawful for a card room to operate or be open to the public between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on any day.

(§ 2 1/2, Ord. 546 N.C.S., as added by Ord. 560 N.C.S., and amended by § 1, Ord. 1063-99, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.06 Security measures.

Any operator of a card room shall have an affirmative duty to immediately report all crimes occurring on the premises to the Watsonville Police Department. The Chief of Police may also require one or more uniformed or nonuniformed security guards to be hired by the card room operator to supervise the conduct of the card room patrons. The Chief of Police may also require liability insurance be filed with the card room operator’s application.

(§ 3, Ord. 546 N.C.S., as amended by § 1, Ord. 1063-99, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.07 Location of card rooms.

Card rooms shall not be located within five hundred (500) feet of a public or private preschool or K-12 school, a public park or playground, or public library.

(§ 1 (part), Ord. 1063-99, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.08 Wagering limits.

It shall be unlawful for any card room operator to permit a person to make an aggregate bet in excess of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars in the same hand, or to bet simultaneous hand by the same player, or allow any bets to be made by a shill or dummy player. The card room operator shall have clearly posted all wagering limits and rules relating to wagering on the premises.

(§ 1, Ord. 1063-99, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.09 Tournaments, special events, or irregular operations.

It shall be unlawful for any card room operator to operate more tables than are authorized, or conduct a tournament without first obtaining authorization from the Department of Justice, Division of Gaming Control. After a request has been submitted, on forms provided by the Division of Gambling Control, a request to conduct a tournament or special event must be made to the Chief of Police at least thirty (30) days in advance of the proposed activity.

(§ 1, Ord. 1063-99, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.10 Number of card tables permitted.

A maximum of twenty (20) card tables will be allowed within the City limits. With no more than five (5) card tables allowed in any single establishment pursuant as set forth in Section 5-6.03.

(§ 1, Ord. 1063-99, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.11 Concurrent regulation with state of California.

In addition to a license issued by the Watsonville Police Department, it shall be unlawful for any card room operator to conduct the activity of the card room in violation of any laws, rules, or regulations of the State of California and the Division of Gambling Control of the Department of Justice. The Watsonville Municipal Code will be concurrent with those laws, rules, and regulations as authorized by the Business and Professions Code with regards to the Gambling Registration Act.

(§ 1, Ord. 1063-99, eff. February 11, 1999)

5-6.12 Revocation of license: Appeals.

The Council does hereby declare that it is not intended by this chapter to permit or license any card room for the playing of any game prohibited by the laws of the State or to permit or license any employee for such unlawful purpose. Should the Chief of Police determine that any law of the City or law of the State is being violated by any licensee or his employee, the Chief of Police may summarily revoke the license. The licensee whose license is thus revoked may appeal to the Council, by written notice, and the Council shall, within a reasonable time, hear and determine the matter, and such determination shall be final and conclusive.

(§ 1, Ord. 1063-99, eff. February 11, 1999)