Parkwest Casino 580 in Livermore appears on course to operate 24/7 with 16 tables and betting limits of $1,000, an increase from its current 10-table and $200 limit.
Also new to its operations would be the allowance of 10 backline betters per table and permission to play all games not prohibited in California, including Pai Gow with tiles.
Livermore City Council unanimously supported the Parkwest Casino 580 operational expansion this week, though implementation requires additional approval by a regulatory body called the California Gambling Control Commission and the Livermore Police Department, city spokesperson Stephanie Egidio said.
In addition to the Parkwest Casino 580 augmentation, the council approved amendments to the municipal code to increase the total number of card tables permitted citywide to 32 tables from a previously population-based value of 19 tables, modify tournament noticing requirements, increase number of cardroom licenses permitted per person from one to two and miscellaneous amendments made for clarification. Prior to the citywide rules taking effect, the municipal code ordinance must undergo a second reading and receive approval from a regulatory agency called the California Bureau of Gambling Control.
Additionally, the council approved the construction of a new, 230-spot surface parking lot at Parkwest Casino 580.
City council offered the greenlight at a regular meeting Feb. 24, following a discussion of the safety improvements associated with the cardroom expansion, the business’ proactive work to address potential gambling addiction and its good reputation with the Livermore police.
“We are happy with the additions that they are proposing here tonight and we think that will help us secure the area and make sure it’s a safe environment,” Livermore Police Chief Jeramy Young told the council.
Prior to the council’s decision, Parkwest Casino 580 operated 24/7 except for nine-hour closures on Mondays with betting limits of $200 at 10 tables. No backline betters were allowed, nor was the game Pai Gow with tiles.
According to the cardroom owner John Park, patrons requested an increase to the betting limit to match other cardrooms in California.
Vice Mayor Evan Branning expressed concern regarding raised limits. “I have seen the damage that gambling addiction can cause, so I’m concerned about the increase in limits,” Branning said.
At the same time, he agreed Parkwest Casino 580 was a good partner and community investments accompanying the project would be beneficial.
As part of the expansion, the cardroom will pay the city $4,800 per table monthly instead of $1,890 per table monthly; contribute $60,000 for traffic cameras, $5,000 for traffic camera maintenance and $29,000 for license plate readers; create a Class IV bicycle lane along the North Canyons project frontage. The new net revenue from the monthly table fees is estimated at $695,000 annually and will be used in part to fund one full-time position in the police department and one in the community development department.
In response to Branning’s inquiry about addressing gambling and alcohol addiction, Park said the company contributes to a statewide initiative for a gambling addiction hotline. Contact information for that hotline is included on every company advertisement.
Councilmember Ben Barrientos shared Branning’s concern about patrons potentially struggling with gambling.
There are addiction-related brochures and placards on-site for patrons, city planning manager Steve Riley responded. The casino is also part of a state program where self-identified gambling addicts are declined service.
To Councilmember Steven Dunbar, Parkwest Casino 580 can offer harm-mitigation, which is better than what can be offered through online gambling.
Safety was another concern for councilmembers, including Barrientos and Kristie Wang.
There haven’t been any major issues at the cardroom in the past few years, Young responded.
Riley added, there is no unusually high police activity at the cardroom, compared to other businesses that have a lot of customers and parking.
During public comment, CEO of the Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce Sherri Souza offered support for the project.
“We’ve been community partners with the Parkwest Casino 580 from the beginning of their arrival in Livermore and can vouch for their good intentions and ongoing community-mindedness,” Souza said.
Regarding the proposed parking lot, council members were aligned in seeing the benefits of the new lot.
Currently, safety concerns arise from the parking that overflows from the cardroom’s 131-space lot onto nearby Doolan Road and Collier Canyon Road.
The new surface lot is set to have 230 parking spaces to accommodate current excess and additional needs due to increased operations, special projects coordinator Susan Frost said.
“It’ll just be a nicer experience for everyone who’s actually going there, not to walk along the side of the road in the dark,” Dunbar said.
Dunbar also offered an amendment to continue review of the design details of the street improvements along North Canyons Parkway.
Previously, the Livermore Planning Commission recommended approval of the operational expansion plan, construction of its proposed parking lot as well as citywide amendments regarding cardrooms at a meeting Jan. 7.
As for the next steps towards expansion, there must be a second reading of the municipal code ordinance, scheduled for March 10 and set to take effect April 9, Egidio explained. After March 10, the ordinance must be submitted to the California Bureau of Gambling Control for final approval. Next, Parkwest Casino 580 must apply to the California Gambling Control Commission for additional tables. Lastly, the business must apply for a city cardroom license through the police department.
Approval by the regulatory groups could take at least a few months, Egidio said.
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