Amid the rising popularity of poker, the Oceanside City Council voted last night in support of more card-room tables in the city.

The council voted 4-1 to change the city’s gambling ordinance and to eventually increase the number of tables allowed in the city from 45 to 56. The ordinance would affect any card room in the city, but as of now it applies only to Ocean’s Eleven on Brooks Street just off Interstate 5 – Oceanside’s sole card room. It also is the only card room in North County not associated with a tribal casino.

More tables means more revenue for the city, which receives $2,000 per table annually plus 4 percent of the card room’s gross. Ocean’s Eleven brings in about $27 million a year, general manager Bob Moyer said before the council meeting. Four percent of that amount would mean more than $1 million in revenue to the city annually.

“Our business on Friday nights has exceeded the number of tables,” he said, because the popularity and television exposure of Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments have drawn new gamblers to the game.

Councilwoman Esther Sanchez cast the dissenting vote, saying she is unhappy with casino patrons parking on other businesses’ property.

Other council members said parking problems will be discussed when the city Planning Commission holds a public hearing on whether to give the casino a conditional-use permit for the extra tables.

The council emphasized that the tables cannot be put into play until the commission acts.

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Recovered from the Poker Players Alliance archive index. This is the archived item as preserved.