Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall operate a cardroom in violation of any of the following regulations:
A. No person shall be permitted to hold or be associated with more than two cardroom licenses issued by the city. For purposes of this section, "associated with" means and includes, but is not limited to, having any financial interest whatsoever in any other cardroom premises (for example, lessor or owner); being a partner; affiliated with the cardroom business in any manner; or being an officer, director, stockholder, or otherwise associated with a corporation holding a cardroom license.
B. Not more than seventeen (17) card tables shall be permitted in any cardroom.
C. Not more than one cardroom shall be located at any one address or parcel.
D. Not more than twelve (12) players may participate at any one card table. All participating players and dealers must be seated at the table. The only exception to this is when the chief of police approves a card game whose stated rules include provisions allowing "back-line betting." This approved game may allow an additional twelve (12) players who may be unseated. These additional players shall not stand more than one behind each seated player. A back line bettor may place a wager without all seats being occupied.
E. Cardrooms shall be located on the ground floor of the premises.
F. No person under the age of twenty-one (21) years shall be permitted at any card table or to participate in any game played at a card table, nor shall any card table be exposed to viewing from other areas of the premises which are open to and frequented by persons under twenty-one (21) years of age.
G. City officers and employees may enter and inspect the cardroom property at any time during business hours to ensure compliance and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
H. No person shall refuse, impede, obstruct, or interfere with an inspection pursuant to this chapter.
I. Each cardroom licensee or licensees shall post in a conspicuous place on the premises a copy of the house rules, regulations and authorized card game rules, and give notice that all persons will be required to comply with them.
J. Cardrooms licensed to conduct gaming in the city shall be permitted to conduct all card games lawful in the state of California subject to the following provisions:
1. The rules of all authorized card games shall be on file with the chief of police;
2. If the game is patented, the licensee shall obtain written permission from the patent owner prior to offering the game to patrons and prior to acquiring the approval of the chief of police to conduct the game;
3. Written rules for each card game offered by a cardroom shall be provided to any patron upon request;
4. All other gaming (including, but not limited to, gaming played with dice or any device for money) not otherwise prohibited by California law is prohibited. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to permit the licensing of any gambling declared illegal in the state of California. The only exception to this is when the chief of police approves a card game whose stated rules include provisions allowing for the use of dice for the express purpose of positioning the first hand dealt.
K. Any deviation or change in the rules of any card game or any new card game from that on file with the chief of police shall adhere to all provisions in this title and require the following:
1. A written set of game rules;
2. A letter from the California Division of Gambling Control advising that the game rules have been reviewed and are legal in the state of California;
3. Upon receipt of these documents, the chief of police shall review any deviation or change and within 90 days approve the request so long as the rules are in compliance with state law and this chapter.
L. No person shall operate more card tables than the maximum amount specified on his or her cardroom license except during promotional or tournament play as set forth in Section 5.32.050 and upon full compliance with the notification provision contained therein. In no event shall the number of tables operated at one time exceed that as provided in subsection B of this section, including during promotional or tournament play.
M. No person shall operate, at any time, a cardroom without having paid all fees, including the quarterly table operation fee and business operations taxes currently due.
N. Cardrooms may operate twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven days a week.
O. No player shall be permitted to wager or raise a wager more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). No player shall be permitted to bet with cash money, markers, or anything other than poker chips. A player in a card game that allows multiple betting spots may, consistent with the rules of the card game, take those multiple bets and before placing them individually may consolidate them into one stack and move the stack forward of the betting spots.
P. No cardroom shall extend credit to any patron in order for the patron to participate in a card game.