State Shuts Down Local Casino Card Room

SACRAMENTO – Attorney General Xavier Becerra today issued an emergency order to close the Magnolia House Casino (Magnolia House) for failing to meet its obligations under the California Gambling Control Act of 1998, which requires all gambling establishments to operate in a manner suitable to protect public health, safety, and general welfare.

Magnolia House is a 10-table card room located at 11275 Folsom Blvd, in Rancho Cordova.

According to the Attorney General’s office the action was necessitated because, despite numerous warnings from gambling regulators, Magnolia House has failed to take corrective actions or respond adequately to requests for information.

The California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Gambling Control issued the emergency order to close the card room after multiple reviews of its finances revealed that it was seriously underfunded, threatening significant losses to patrons and players.

“There’s no excuse for failing to comply with the law and attempting to ignore regulators,” said Attorney General Becerra. “If you want to operate a gambling establishment in this state, then you must to do your part to uphold the public’s trust. Magnolia House hasn’t done that and it’s putting its patrons at risk. At the California Department of Justice, we’ll take decisive action when appropriate and that’s why we’re issuing an emergency order to shut this operation down.”

The emergency order follows an accusation filed last week against the gambling establishment noting serious concerns about its operations. In addition to its inability to maintain sufficient funds to cover the cost of patrons cashing out their chips, the accusation alleges that Magnolia House failed to deposit funds from third-party providers into separate, specifically-designated, and insured accounts in accordance with the Gambling Control Act.

In addition, the card room allegedly illegally used or converted funds held in trust to cover operation expenses it could no longer meet. Moreover, under the Gambling Control Act, gambling establishments are required to make full and true disclosure to gambling regulators of all information necessary to carry out the state’s policies relating to licensing and control of gambling.

Despite this requirement, Magnolia House allegedly failed to adequately respond to written requests for information regarding deposits from undisclosed sources even though extensions were given. Instead, the card room provided misleading and incomplete information and failed to supply any of the requested documents.

The card room will remain closed unless it is able to demonstrate that it has addressed its funding issues in compliance with its obligations under the Gambling Control Act and has received approval to reopen from the Bureau of Gambling Control. If Magnolia House is unable to do so, a hearing will be set before the Office of Administrative Hearings to address the emergency closure order along with the accusation.

A copy of the emergency order can be viewed at: https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Magnolia%20House%20-%20EO%20Closure.pdf

A copy of the complaint from the California Gambling Control Commission can be viewed at: http://www.cgcc.ca.gov/documents/adminactions/pending_hearings/Magnolia_House_Casino_Accusation.pdf