Aliso Viejo, CA Gambling & Gaming: Card Room Licensing (2026)

Chapter 8.06 of the Aliso Viejo Municipal Code, titled Cards, Dice and Similar Games, is the city's own gambling rule. Section 8.06.040(A) makes it a misdemeanor for any person, for profit or for commercial purposes, to keep, operate, conduct, permit or maintain in the city any structure, room or other place where a game, gaming or gambling not made unlawful by state law is played, whether with cards, dice or other devices, including any computer simulation, for money, checks, credit or other things of value. Subsection (B) extends the same misdemeanor to players, owners, principals, agents and employees, whether or not paid.

Section 8.06.020 is the card room gate. No application to establish a gaming club in the city will be accepted or processed unless and until the electors of the city affirmatively propose and approve an initiative measure in accord with California law permitting legal gambling within the city. Section 8.06.030 adds that if such a measure passes, any application fee for a gaming club license must include the sum needed to reimburse the city for all reasonable costs and expenses of the ballot measure, as determined by the city clerk. The chapter contains no card room licensing procedure beyond those two sections.

Section 8.06.040(C) applies the prohibition to Internet cafes, cyber cafes and similar computer- or electronic-based businesses owned, opened or operated principally to promote or facilitate the prohibited activities. Section 8.06.050 carves out not-for-profit, noncommercial play in residences and their common areas used with the owner's consent, and in facilities of registered nonprofit or charitable organizations when the activity raises funds for that organization, plus bingo under Penal Code Section 326.5 and Chapter 8.08, and charitable raffles under Penal Code Section 320.5. Section 8.06.010 states the chapter does not supersede any act expressly permitted or prohibited by state law.