Game/Gaming Activity Approval

The Gambling Control Act (the Act), Business & Professions Code section 19800 et seq., charges the Division with the responsibility to review and approve the rules of any game/gaming activity (such as jackpots, cashpots, bonuses, drawings, etc.) in a cardroom prior to them being offered for play. All game and promotional gaming activity rules are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted to the Division for review and written approval prior to offering the game for play.

It is Division policy that all game and promotional gaming activity rules require an Application for each game review or gaming activity review and a non-refundable $500 application fee for the review and approval process. The table limits, fee collection schedule, wagering limits and betting scheme must be attached to all Applications.

Division Regulation, section 2071, requires all gaming activities offered by a gambling establishment to be reported to and approved by the Division. Gambling establishments must notify and obtain written Division authorization prior to offering, or engaging in the gaming activity for play. In addition, all gaming activity is subject to local ordinance requirements, regardless of whether the Division has approved the gaming activity rules for play. The notification should include the following information: (1) the name of each gaming activity; (2) the rules for each gaming activity; including, where applicable, a description of the event that determines the winner of the gaming activity, the wagering conventions, and the fee collection and assessment methods; (3) a glossary of distinctive terms or phrases used in each gaming activity; and (4) a statement for each gaming activity that explains why that gaming activity is not prohibited or made unlawful by statute or local ordinance. If necessary, the Division may require the submission of additional information.

GAMES

A game is any controlled card or tile game. A gaming activity encompasses any promotional scheme that is appended to, references or relies upon any controlled game. Each game and gaming activity requires review by the Division on a case-by-case basis. Only those games and/or gaming activities and associated rules approved in writing by the Division for that gambling establishment are authorized to be offered for play at the gambling establishment. All proposed games and/or gaming activities rules must be submitted to the Division along with the appropriate application form, application fee, and a complete description of the proposed game or gaming activity. This includes the following Division approved games and rules for play.

Division Approved Games and Rules for Play

The games and the generic rules listed below have been reviewed by the Division for play. This list represents a sample of game rules and is not all inclusive of all game rule approvals. If these game rules are used submit them with the application form and fee. If any changes to these rules are made, please highlight the changes and submit the game rules with the application form and fee. This will expedite the review process. Please remember, the game rules must be an accurate representation of the play of games at the gambling establishment.