Central Los Angeles : 3 Cities Ask Reversal of Poker Game Ban

Three cities faced with job and revenue losses after a court decision outlawing a popular casino poker game have filed petitions asking the state Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.

The state Court of Appeal in Los Angeles agreed in July with the state attorney general’s office that the game, jackpot poker, is illegal in California casinos because it is a game of chance, and therefore a lottery. Lotteries not conducted by the state are illegal.

Officials in City of Commerce, Huntington Park and Bell Gardens said their communities stand to lose millions of dollars in tax revenues and hundreds of jobs if card clubs are forced to drop jackpot poker, said attorney Jerry Hill, who represents the California Commerce Club casino.

The City of Commerce collected $3 million in tax revenue last year from the California Commerce Club, which devotes half of its tables to jackpot poker, according to a brief filed by the city. A loss of that money would have a significant impact on the city’s $30-million budget, said spokeswoman Judy Rambeau.

“Services would have to be cut somewhere, and if services were cut, it stands to reason that employees providing those services would be cut too,” Rambeau said.

The Supreme Court has 90 days to decide whether to hear the case.