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California City Gives One Casino All the Cards

“For the first time, the Fresno City Council has decided to give one card room -- Club One -- gaming rights to all 50 tables allowed by a city ordinance.

“Soon after Fresno enacted its gaming ordinance in 1994, the city began dividing table rights among several downtown card rooms, hoping to spur competition. Four of the card rooms folded, leaving only Club One.

“In order to protect the $1 million or more it gets each year from table fees -- the city is endorsing a different kind of competition. The council decided to give Club One a fighting chance to compete against area Indian casinos.

“…Club One owner George Sarantos explained the reality: Owning a Fresno card room is particularly competitive because there are only so many card players.

“Indian establishments such as Table Mountain Casino near Friant, The Palace near Lemoore and the new Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino in Madera County siphon the potential customer base with offerings of Nevada-style card games, slot machines, banquet rooms and big-time entertainment.

“…Club One, on Van Ness Avenue across from Courthouse Park, brought in $8.79 million in 2002 and paid the city $794,896 in table fees. Through March this year, Club One has earned $2.6 million, which has netted the city $241,945.

“…By owning all the gaming rights, Sarantos said he now can concentrate on a marketing plan to compete against the Indian casinos…”

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