Card room
A venue that offers poker without house-banked casino games. California's cardrooms (Commerce, The Bike, Bay 101) and Texas's membership card clubs are the best-known types; the term is also used loosely for the poker section of a casino.
Frequently asked questions
What is a card room?
A venue licensed to spread games played between players, with the house taking a rake or time charge rather than banking the action itself.
How is a card room different from a casino?
A casino is licensed to bank games — roulette, blackjack, and house-banked card games where you play against the dealer. Many jurisdictions license the two separately, which is why some countries have plenty of casinos and almost no poker.
Why does the distinction matter?
Because it determines whether real poker exists in a market. Hungary, for example, treats card-room operation as a liberalised activity any qualifying company can be licensed for, while reserving online casino gaming to land-based concession holders.