Casino Partners Promised Operating Licenses
City officials promised Thursday to give the managing partners of the Bicycle Club Casino temporary operating licenses to keep the card club open.
The decision appears to be a turnaround for Bell Gardens officials, who had accused the managing partners in legal documents of operating without a city license, as required under city and state law.
Casino managers responded to the city’s charge by threatening to close the club--which generates about $8 million a year in taxes for the city.
After a closed-door City Council meeting Wednesday, acting City Manager Anil Gandhy said he will issue temporary licenses to managing partners Walter Lack and Robert Clark. City officials said the third managing partner, Haig Kelegian, did not request a management license.
The dispute centers on whether a former City Council--a majority of which has since been recalled--issued proper ownership and management licenses to the managing partners who bought controlling interest in the casino in April.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
