A. Cardroom. Any room open to the public for the lawful playing of cards, regardless of whether the tables, chairs, and other furniture and fixtures are temporary or permanent or at times used for other purposes.

B. Chief of Police. The Chief of Police of the City or his authorized representative.

C. City. The City of Petaluma, California.

D. Conducted. Shall include the terms “operated”, “engaged in”, “allowed”, “permitted” and “suffered” within its meaning.

E. Conviction. A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. The record of conviction of the crime shall be conclusive evidence of the fact that the conviction occurred, but only of that fact, and the Chief of Police may inquire into the circumstances surrounding the commission of the crime for purposes of applying the provisions of this ordinance.

F. Dealer. Any individual dealing a gambling game, or who operates or manages such game or games on a premises authorized under this chapter.

G. Exempt Organization. A nonprofit society, club, fraternal, labor, or other organization having adopted bylaws, duly elected officers and/or directors, and a bona fide membership which has applied for and obtained tax exempt status as an exempt organization from the Franchise Tax Board of the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service under the Internal Revenue Code of the United States.

H. Financial Interest. Any direct or indirect interest in the management, operation, ownership, profits or revenue (gross or net) of a gaming club. A “direct financial interest” means a monetary investment in a gaming club or the premises and business enterprises directly related to it. An “indirect financial interest” means owning one percent (1%) or more of any entity, i.e., any business, corporation, partnership or trust, that in turn has a direct financial interest in a cardroom. The following are examples of indirect financial interests:

I. Gambling. The playing, for money or chips representing money, or for any other thing of value, of those card games which are not unlawful under the laws of the State of California.

J. Gambling Licensee. Any person or persons who are currently licensed under Chapter 6.20 of the Petaluma Municipal Code.

K. Hours of operation. The hours that a cardroom may operate. A cardroom may operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or as authorized by the individual conditional use permit.

L. House Player. An employee engaged, financed, or paid by the licensee for the purpose of starting and/or maintaining a sufficient number of players in a card game.

M. Interested Person. Any member, stockholder, officer, director, partner, principal, associate, individual, trustee, or combination thereof holding any financial interest in a licensee, or who has the power to exercise influence over the operation of a cardroom or a licensee.

N. Legal Gaming. Any game played with cards or other similar devices for currency, check, credit or other thing of value which is not prohibited and made unlawful by Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 319) or Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 330) of Title 9 of Part 1 of the Penal Code.

O. License. The license issued under Chapter 6.20 of the Petaluma Municipal Code by the City to an applicant permitting the operation of a cardroom owned by the applicant.

P. Licensee. The individual or entity that owns a cardroom and to whom a license to operate a cardroom has been issued by the City.

Q. Manager. Anyone who represents the interest of the licensee in the operation of a cardroom, whose duties include but may not be limited to: (1) the making or changing of policy; (2) approving credit; (3) hiring or firing of employees; (4) generally exercising independent judgment in the operation of the cardroom. A manager need not have a financial interest in the cardroom. A manager must be an employee of the licensee, or if not an employee, then a person having a financial interest as a partner, a shareholder, or trustee of the cardroom (but not otherwise).

R. Organized Crime. A structured criminal syndicate composed of professional criminals who primarily rely on unlawful activity as a way of life.

S. Person. Includes individual, partnership, corporation, association, club, firm, or entity of any character whatsoever.

T. Patron Safety and Security Plan. The document which describes the methods that are implemented and qualifications of the permanent staff and use of contract personnel hired by the cardroom owners, operators, or managers to provide for the safety and security of the cardroom patrons.

U. Private Lender. Any person other than a state or federally regulated bank or savings and loan association, a credit union, any other recognized financial institution doing business with the public, that has loaned or advanced, or is obligated to loan or advance money to a cardroom if either the payment of interest or principal of such loan is based in any part on the profits or revenue (gross or net) of the cardroom, or by virtue of the loan, such person has the power to exercise influence over the operation of a cardroom.

V. Qualified Transferor. (1) a person, partnership, or corporation holding a cardroom license; (2) a person holding stock in a corporate licensee; and/or (3) a person having a partnership interest in a partnership license.

W. Registrant. Any person who has filed an application under the Registration Gambling Control Act of California (California Business and Professions Code, Subsection 19800 et seq) hereafter “Gambling Control Act”.

X. Transfer of a Financial Interest. The assignment, bequest, conveyance, demise, devise, gift, grant, lease, loan, sublease, or transfer of a financial interest in a cardroom.

Y. Transfer of a License. The assignment, bequest, conveyance, demise, gift, grant, lease, loan, sublease or transfer of a cardroom license.

Z. Wagering Limits. The minimum and maximum amount that may be used for betting purposes for any game played within the cardroom. There are no wagering limits established by this ordinance for purposes of Business and Professions Code section 19860. A minimum of two signs are to be clearly and prominently posted within the cardroom and one sign on each table where a card game is being played stating the minimum and maximum betting amount.