Lake Elsinore, CA Gambling & Gaming: Card Room Licensing (2026)

LEMC § 5.44.020 makes it unlawful to establish, open or operate a cardroom without first obtaining a City permit and license, which issues only to an applicant already holding a valid gambling club license under the state Gambling Control Act, Business and Professions Code § 19800 et seq. Section 5.44.030 caps the number of cardroom permits citywide at 16, bars any single person or entity from holding more than one permit, and gives the City Council complete discretion to weigh the location of existing cardrooms and the financial impact on the City before issuing additional permits.

Section 5.44.140 sets a floor and ceiling per cardroom of 14 to 100 card tables, and a citywide ceiling of 500 tables across all 16 permitted establishments. Section 5.44.050 requires at least five acres of land, a minimum 4,500-square-foot gaming floor, an attached restaurant of at least 2,500 square feet, and parking for at least 300 vehicles. Permits run two years under § 5.44.040 and renewal requires a current, nonrevoked state license. Fees under § 5.44.060 include a $5,500 application fee, a quarterly license fee tied to table count, and a quarterly permit fee based on a percentage of gross revenue that scales from 3.0% of revenue over $2,000,000 up to 5.0% of revenue over $5,000,000.