Ventura County Municipal Code Art. 5 Card Rooms

No person shall keep, conduct, or maintain a card room or knowingly permit any building, room or place owned by him or under his charge or control to be used as a card room unless he holds a valid annual renewal of an unrevoked card room license issued by the Board of Supervisors prior to December 30, 1958.

The provisions of this Article shall not apply to the carrying on of card games in private homes for purely social purposes.

"Card room" means a business house, house, room, apartment or place in which the playing of cards for money, checks, chips, credit, or other representative of value is conducted or carried on.

Any revoked card room license shall terminate forever when and if not renewed on or before July 1 of any year in accordance with the provisions of sections 2114, 2116 and 2132 of this Division and section 2275 of this Article.

Any person as a principal who holds a valid and unrevoked card room license issued by the Board of Supervisors prior to December 30, 1958, and who desires to obtain an annual renewal of such license shall make a written application to the Sheriff therefor, stating in addition to the information required by section 2113-2 the following information:

(a) The name and residence of the applicant and all other persons interested in the business;

(b) The particular place for which the license renewal is requested;

(c) The number of tables which are or will be operating during the current fiscal year; and

(d) That the applicant is of good moral character and will not carry on such business in a manner detrimental to the morals, peace, safety, and well-being of the community.

Each applicant for renewal shall be fingerprinted and photographed at the Sheriff's office.

When the applicant has complied with sections 2275 and 2276 the Sheriff shall approve the application for annual renewal. The Sheriff may disapprove the application for license renewal or revoke or suspend a license already granted if he finds that:

(a) The applicant has made an untruthful statement in his application;

(b) The applicant is an immoral, disorderly or dishonest person;

(c) The applicant has violated any provision of this Article;

(d) The applicant is an unfit person to manage such business;

(e) The applicant's card room business has been carried on in a manner detrimental to the peace, health, safety, morals, or well-being of the community; or

(f) Cards have been used or played in such place of business contrary to the laws of the State of California or ordinances of this County.

Whenever a license is revoked pursuant to section 2277 no portion of the license renewal fee shall be refunded.

Any person whose application for license renewal is disapproved or whose license is suspended or revoked by the Sheriff may appeal to the Board of Supervisors within 30 days after the date of such denial or revocation in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 2133.

The Tax Collector shall not issue a renewal of any license until a photograph of the applicant is attached.

No card room license or renewal thereof shall be assignable or transferable in any manner whatsoever nor shall it authorize any person other than the licensee or his salaried employees to conduct, transact or carry on such business.

Under no conditions shall the location or address of any card room be changed from its present location and address.

No person shall conduct, transact or carry on card room business as an employee of a card room licensee unless he personally appears before the Sheriff and;

(a) Submits to the Sheriff such information as the Sheriff shall require, including but not limited to the basis of compensation for his employment;

(b) Is fingerprinted and photographed by the Sheriff;

(c) Obtains an identification card from the Sheriff containing such information as the Sheriff shall require;

(d) Carries his identification card on his person at all times he is engaged in the business of his employer; and

(e) Exhibits his identification card whenever requested to do so by a law enforcement officer or by any person with whom he is engaged in card room business.

A card room licensee shall not employ or permit to remain in his employment any person who has not complied with the provisions of section 2283.

It is unlawful for any person to permit or allow any person under the age of 18 years to enter, loiter, or remain in or play cards in any card room.

(Am. Ord. 2611—8/1/72)

It is unlawful for any person to operate, conduct, or keep open, or permit or allow any person other than a principal or employee regularly employed, in, on, or about any card room between the hours of 1 o'clock a.m. and 9 o'clock a.m.

The number of tables at any card room shall not exceed the number of tables appearing on the corresponding card room license in effect December 29, 1958.

No more than one game shall be played at any one table at the same time in any card room.

The fee for renewal of a card room license shall be $150.00 per table annually. The fee for the issuance of a card room employee identification card shall be $10.00 per card.

(Am. Ord. 2449—4/27/71)