Tulare County‘s gaming landscape is set to undergo significant changes following the Board of Supervisors’ unanimous decision to update the county’s gambling ordinance.
The new regulations, approved this month, will allow California casinos in unincorporated areas to expand their operations, including increasing the number of gaming tables, extending operating hours, and removing betting limits.
The ordinance changes were triggered by The Deuce Lounge and Casino‘s application to build a new facility in Goshen.
Ordinance changes are focused on casino expansion
The updates to Tulare County’s gambling ordinance will take effect Aug. 27 and include the following modifications:
– Casinos can now have 12 gambling tables per facility, up from the previous limit of five.
– The countywide limit on gambling tables has increased from 12 to 16.
– The updated ordinance removes previous betting limits, which capped single bets and total daily ante at $200.
– The ordinance allows casinos to operate 24 hours a day, compared to the previous hours of 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
– Casinos can now hire employees aged 18-21 for nongambling roles, such as restaurant staff positions.
Deuce Lounge and Casino unveils plans to grow
The Deuce Lounge and Casino has plans for a larger building that offers gaming and nongaming entertainment and improved parking, signage, and landscaping. The casino’s owners want to construct a new 7,500-square-foot facility with 12 gaming tables, a bar, and indoor and outdoor dining.
It is estimated that the expansion will create at least 50 new jobs.
However, at the Aug. 13 meeting, county supervisors raised concerns about security and a possible uptick in crime and disturbances in the surrounding area.
According to a Sun-Gazette article about the meeting, Michael Washam, associate director of the Tulare County Resource Management Agency, emphasized that the county has measures in place to revoke The Deuce’s business permits if necessary.
But Kyle Kirkland, president of The Deuce’s parent company GLCR Inc., assured the supervisors that the facility’s comprehensive security plan, which has been approved by multiple agencies, would maintain community safety. “We don’t tolerate [criminal activity],” the article quoted him as saying before he cited the dramatic reduction in crime around GLCR’s casino in Fresno.
Future ordinance updates are possible
More updates to Tulare County’s gaming ordinance could be in the works.
The Board of Supervisors may consider raising the limit on countywide gambling tables by two every four years, as permitted under the Gambling Control Act.
“There are a number of things that we could do to modernize this (ordinance), including increasing the number of tables,” Kirkland was quoted as saying.
