Folsom, CA Gambling & Gaming: Card Room Licensing (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide cardroom cap
- 1 license, city council issued
- Card table limit
- 13 tables citywide
- Players per table
- 10 maximum
- Minimum distance from another cardroom
- 300 feet
- Misdemeanor fine
- Up to $1,000 plus 6 months jail
Summary
Folsom permits exactly one cardroom citywide, limited to 13 card tables and a city council license granted only after police, fire, building, and planning review. Cardrooms may run 24 hours, but the planning commission can restrict hours through the conditional use permit.
C. Only one cardroom is permitted in the city, and only one cardroom license may be issued by the city. ... 2. No more than thirteen card tables shall be permitted in any cardroom, and no more than thirteen card tables are allowed in the city. 3. Not more than one cardroom shall be located at any one address. 4. No more than ten players shall be permitted at a table.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1369, passed April 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020. 050). 070 then layers on operating rules: no more than 13 card tables citywide, no more than 10 players per table, no minors at any table, mandatory "NO PERSON UNDER TWENTY-ONE ALLOWED" signage, a ban on shills, and open access for police inspection at all hours. Cardrooms need a conditional use permit and are confined to C-2 and C-3 zones, barred from the C-3 East Bidwell Street corridor for any new cardroom, and must sit at least 300 feet from any other cardroom and 300 feet from a church, school, park, playground, hospital, or convalescent facility.
There are no wagering limits, even during tournaments, but only chips or tokens, never cash, may be wagered at the table, and tournament wager terms must be cleared with the chief of police at least 15 days ahead.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Chapter 5.20 is punishable as a misdemeanor under Section 5.20.140(A), carrying a fine of up to $1,000, up to 6 months in county jail, or both, on top of administrative sanctions under Section 1.08.020. The code separately deems any Chapter 5.20 violation a Level E administrative violation under Section 1.09.012(A)(5), the code's highest monetary sanction tier. The city council can revoke or suspend a license for cause, including misrepresenting a material fact in the application, failing to comply with chapter requirements, or ceasing cardroom operation for six consecutive months or more (Section 5.20.110). Attempting to transfer a license outside the narrow exceptions in Section 5.20.090 automatically revokes it (Section 5.20.080).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Folsom
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Card Room Licensing in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle card room licensing.