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

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

Key Facts

Citywide cap
No more than 4 card rooms
Table cap (current)
13 tables per card room
License fee
2.5% of quarterly gross revenue
Operating hours
24/7 unless use permit limits
Wagering limits
None set by ordinance
Licensing authority
Chief of Police
Violation penalty
Misdemeanor

Summary

Stockton caps card rooms at four citywide and licenses each one through the Chief of Police under SMC Chapter 5.32. Licensees pay a quarterly license fee equal to 2.5% of gross card room revenue under Section 5.08.110, and operating without a license is a misdemeanor.

At no time shall there be more additional card room license(s) in the City that would result in exceeding the limitation of card rooms and/or playing tables established herein... There shall be no more than four card rooms in the City at any one time. The number of tables for a particular applicant shall be determined during the land use and licensing approval process... a licensed card room shall be allowed to increase the number of gambling tables operated in the card room by up to two additional tables above the number of tables operated in the card room on January 1, 2023. With this increase, no more than 13 tables shall be permitted in any one card room.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4970744; v11 updated 2026-07-07).

Full Breakdown

030). 080 caps the city at no more than four card rooms at any one time, with table counts set individually during the land use and licensing approval process. 07. 040). 290 sets no wagering limits and allows card rooms to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, unless a use permit restricts hours. 110); the city can audit the books, and licensees who understate revenue by 1% or more bear the audit cost. 110(E)).

Violations & Fines

Operating a card room without a license, or violating any Chapter 5.32 requirement or Police Department rule, is a misdemeanor (§ 5.32.300). The Chief of Police may suspend or revoke a license for failing to file the quarterly revenue statement, failing to pay the license fee, or refusing to allow inspection of books and records (§ 5.08.110(D)). Denials and revocations can be appealed to the City Manager within 10 City business days, then to the City Council (§§ 5.32.090, 5.32.320).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many card rooms can operate in Stockton?
City ordinance caps the number at four card rooms at any one time under Stockton Municipal Code § 5.32.080. Additional card rooms cannot be licensed until an existing one closes, and any new location still has to clear the land use approval process under Title 16.
How many tables can a Stockton card room have?
Table counts are set for each licensee during licensing and land use approval. The code allows phased increases of two tables at a time above 2023 levels, currently capping each card room at 13 tables, rising in future years to a maximum cumulative increase of 10 tables per Business and Professions Code § 19961.07.
What does a Stockton card room pay the city?
Each licensee pays a quarterly license fee equal to 2.5% of gross revenue from the card room operation, due within 30 days after each calendar quarter, under Stockton Municipal Code § 5.08.110. A sworn statement of gross revenue must accompany the payment.
Can Stockton card rooms stay open all night?
Yes. Section 5.32.290 allows card rooms to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, unless the operator's conditional use permit sets an earlier closing or later opening time.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Stockton

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: BeekeepingSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Smoke DetectorsSome Restrictions

All Stockton rules

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