Bell Municipal Code Art. VII Prohibited Conduct by Players

For the purpose of this article, the words and phrases hereinafter set forth shall have the following meanings ascribed to them unless the context clearly requires to the contrary:

"Blind cut" or "false cut"

means a maneuver which appears to cut the deck, but does not in fact do so.

"Blind shuffle"

means to false shuffle, or to give the deceptive impression of intermixing playing cards, while actually retaining the same sequence of all or a group of cards.

"Bottoms"

means dealing or dropping cards from the bottom of the deck.

"Burn"

means a discard in accordance with the rules of the game, made before the draw when playing draw poker.

"Capping the deck"

means to place cards onto the top of the deck, which should not be there.

"Cooler" or "cold deck"

means a deck of cards, secretly prearranged in a known sequence or marked to be substituted for the deck in play.

"Daubing"

means to mark cards by applying a faintly visible substance to the back of the cards.

"Double discard"

means to discard and receive or take a card or cards twice on the draw.

"Greek deal" or "second bottom"

means to deal a card which is second from the bottom of the deck.

"Hand mucking" or "holding out" or "holding a card or cards out from the deck"

means the surreptitious switching of cards from those that are dealt to a player.

"Hopping the cut"

means to surreptitiously nullify the cutting of the deck.

"Machine"

means a mechanical device used for the purpose of surreptitiously switching or retaining cards.

"Middle dealing"

means to deal a card from the center section of the deck.

"Punching"

means to mark the back of the cards by creating a dimple or indentation thereon.

"Roughing fluid"

means a liquid chemical applied to the back of the cards for the purpose of marking them by roughening the surface.

"Run-up" or "stacking" or "stocking" or "hay mowing"

means to shuffle the cards in such a fashion as to surreptitiously arrange the sequence of known cards.

"Sanding"

means to mark cards by applying an abrasive substance to the cards.

"Seconds"

means dealing the second card from the top of the deck.

"Shaving"

means using a razor or sharp instrument to shave the edges of the cards.

"Shiner"

means a mirror or other reflecting device used for the purpose of enabling a player to see cards which the player is not entitled to see under the rules of the game being played.

"Sign" or "signal" or "scam"

means to sign or signal by motion or verbally to a player or other players the cards possessed or the cards needed.

"Slick sleeve" or "mohair sleeve" or "shirt"

means a long sleeve on a clothing garment to assist in holding out a playing card.

"Slug"

means a set or known group of cards.

"Spreading"

means to spread a hand (of a partner) using one or more cards (which were not part of the hand) to make the hand a winning hand.

"Transmitter"

means an electronic or radio device used for the purpose of transmitting signals or information to another player, who receives such signals or information by use of a receiver.

"White flash"

means a form of daubing whereby a chemical is used to create a "white on white" marking on the back of the cards.

(Prior code § 4275(a); Ord. 1089 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1091 § 1, 1993)

It is unlawful for any person as a player or dealer:

A. To deal, draw, distribute or burn any playing cards other than the top card of a deck. The "top card" as used in this section means the uppermost face-down card of a face-down deck; and

B. To shuffle or cause to be shuffled any playing cards that are to be used or are being used in a licensed card game, other than in a random manner; and

C. To predetermine, or prearrange the sequence of playing cards by value or suit, or to retain or hold back a card or cards either individually, or as a group or slug as an effort to circumvent a random mixing of the playing cards; and

D. To use a blind shuffle, run-up, stacking or stocking of the deck to gain an unfair advantage in play, whether or not an advantage is gained; and

E. To palm, hold-out, or conceal any card or cards during a card game, whether by sleight of hand, mechanical apparatus, or by clothing such as slick sleeve; and

F. To switch, exchange or cause to be exchanged, any playing card or cards by any deceptive practices including, but not limited to, hand mucking, capping the deck, introducing additional cards into a game, or switching the decks with a "cooler"; and

G. To use any technique in a card game designed to accomplish a blind or false cut, or to use a fraudulent technique to nullify a cut once performed by a player, or to influence or indicate to another person to cut the deck at a specific location; and

H. To deliberately mark or alter any card or cards when such cards are in play; and

I. To use any altered or marked cards in a card game. "Marking and altering" as used in this section includes sanding, daubing, white flash, white on white, punching, adding to, removing from or blocking out, the existing design whether on the face, backside or edge of any card or cards; and

J. To crimp, warp, bend, cut, trim or alter by any means a card that would or could cause an advantage for any player over another player or players, whether or not such advantage is gained; and

K. To use any mechanical or electrical apparatus or device so as to gain or see, to gain any advantage, or to gain or seem to gain information that would enable a player or dealer to deceive others; such devices include, but are not limited to, the use of ultraviolet lights and/or special glass to read otherwise invisible paint or ink, hold-out, shiners, transmitters, receivers, punches, chemical solutions, shading, roughing fluids, inks or dyes; and

L. To knowingly aid or abet another in any conduct prohibited by this section.

(Prior code § 4275(b); Ord. 1089 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1091 § 1, 1993)

Each licensee shall cause Section 5.28.690 to be reproduced and posted in the licensed premises. Such posting shall be in a location where it is easily readable by anyone. Such posting shall be of readable print and enclosed within a frame or as a sign either laminated or protected by glass or a plexiglass covering.

(Prior code § 4275(c); Ord. 1089 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1091 § 1, 1993)

It is unlawful for any person to play, or permit the playing of, any game regulated or referred to by the provisions of this chapter at any place within the city, except at a location open to public view, approved by the chief, in an enclosed building on a site.

(Prior code § 4260(a); Ord. 1089 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1091 § 1, 1993)

It is unlawful for any person to play in any game at any card club licensed pursuant to this chapter, if such game is not permitted to be conducted by applicable laws.

(Prior code § 4260(b); Ord. 1089 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1091 § 1, 1993)