Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Rancho Cordova

Rancho Cordova, CA Gambling & Gaming: Card Room Licensing (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Citywide cardroom cap
2 licenses maximum
Minimum player age
21 years old
Application deposit
$10,000 at filing
License must be used within
90 days of issuance
Betting method allowed
poker chips only, no cash/credit
Alcohol cutoff hours
2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. barred

Summary

Rancho Cordova caps cardrooms at two citywide and requires a special business license under RCMC Chapter 4.22 before any card game for money can be dealt. Operators must clear California's Gambling Control Act background review, post wagering limits, and bar credit play, patrons under 21, and cash betting at the tables.

No person shall operate or conduct a cardroom in the city unless under, and by authority of, a valid, unexpired and unrevoked special business license authorizing a cardroom issued pursuant to this chapter. ... Only two special business licenses to operate cardrooms shall be issued by the city of Rancho Cordova.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).

Full Breakdown

22. 020 hard-caps the city at only two cardroom licenses; if more applicants apply than slots exist, the city manager awards them in the order applications were filed, and a license only opens up once a prior one is revoked or a renewal is finally denied on appeal. 025 requires the application to go through the finance director with a $10,000 deposit at filing, covering the city's costs to process, investigate and review it, plus any excess costs beyond that deposit before the city manager will approve.

& Prof. ), and the license must be placed into active use within 90 days of issuance or the city manager can revoke it. 120 bars anyone under 21 from frequenting a cardroom or playing any card game there. 125 lets each table set its own betting limit as long as it is posted at the table, but bans betting with cash, markers, or anything other than poker chips. 135 flatly prohibits extending credit to a patron to fund play. , and lets the chief of police order added security, including cameras, based on crime patterns at the location.

Violations & Fines

Operating a cardroom without the special business license required by § 4.22.005 is unlawful. Failing to place an issued license into active use within 90 days, extending credit to a player, allowing an intoxicated patron to play, or permitting narcotics, bookmaking or prostitution on the premises are each independent grounds for the city manager to revoke the license under §§ 4.22.015 and 4.22.145. Ejected patrons who refuse to leave are subject to arrest for trespassing under § 4.22.150.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cardrooms can operate in Rancho Cordova?
Only two, under RCMC § 4.22.020. If more qualified applicants apply than there are open slots, the city manager issues licenses in the order applications were filed with the city clerk, and no new slot opens until an existing license is revoked or a denied renewal becomes final on appeal.
Can a cardroom in Rancho Cordova extend credit to players?
No. RCMC § 4.22.135 prohibits any cardroom from extending credit to a patron so they can keep playing. Section 4.22.125 also bars betting with cash or markers; players must wager only with poker chips, and each table's limit must be posted.
What does it cost to apply for a Rancho Cordova cardroom license?
Applicants file with the finance director and must submit a $10,000 deposit at filing under § 4.22.025, which covers the city's investigation and review costs. If those costs exceed the deposit and any fee paid, the applicant must pay the excess before the city manager approves the license.
Can police require a Rancho Cordova cardroom to install security cameras?
Yes. Under § 4.22.145(D), the chief of police can order additional security measures, including security cameras, beyond an approved security plan if crime patterns, prior incidents, or time-of-day risk at that location warrant it, and the licensee must comply within the timeframe given.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Rancho Cordova

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Native PlantsSome Restrictions

All Rancho Cordova rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California gambling & gaming overview

Get notified when Card Room Licensing in Rancho Cordova, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Card Room Licensing in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Sacramento County handle card room licensing.

Sacramento, CA
Significant Restrictions
Folsom, CA
Significant Restrictions
Elk Grove, CA
Significant Restrictions