Oktoobar 14, 2026 · Ordinance · 2026-328
Amend Social Games Code to strengthen compliance requirements and update program fees (amend Code Sections 14A.70.060 and 14A.70.070)
Soo koobid af fudud
City raises poker room permit fee, first update since 1974
Places that host social games, mostly poker rooms, need a city permit. This raises the yearly permit fee to catch up with inflation and adds an automatic inflation increase each year. Permit holders must also follow the city's business license and tax rules to get and keep a permit.
Decision: Passed, 10 to 0, with 2 councilors absent.
Who it affects: About 14 businesses that run social games such as poker rooms in Portland.
Money: The permit fee has not changed since 1974 and will now rise with inflation each year. The new amount is not stated. The fees help pay for the city staff position that regulates these businesses.
Next: The changes take effect January 1, 2027.
Official record
Waxaa qoray AI iyadoo ka duulaysa diiwaanka rasmiga ah, si toos ah ayaana loo hubiyay. Oktoobar 14, 2026
Soo koobid af fudud
Higher permit fees and new tax rule for Portland poker rooms
This raises the yearly permit fee for businesses that run social games, like poker rooms, to catch up with inflation, since the fee has not changed since 1974. The fee will also rise each year with inflation. Businesses must follow the city's business license and tax rules to get and keep the permit.
Decision: Moved forward to a second reading, which is a final vote at a later meeting. No vote count was given.
Who it affects: About 14 businesses that host social games such as poker rooms.
Money: The permit fee goes up for inflation, but the new amount is not given. Fees help pay for the city staff position that oversees the program.
Next: Second reading on October 14, 2026 at 9:30 am. If passed, the changes take effect January 1, 2027.
Official record
Waxaa qoray AI iyadoo ka duulaysa diiwaanka rasmiga ah, si toos ah ayaana loo hubiyay. Oktoobar 7, 2026
- Full title
- Amend Social Games Code to strengthen compliance requirements and update program fees (amend Code Sections 14A.70.060 and 14A.70.070)
- Status
- Passed
- Document number
- 2026-328
- Introduced by
- Councilor Steve Novick
- City department
- Revenue Division
- Requested council date
- October 14, 2026
- Purpose and background
- The proposed legislation updates the application fee for inflation and adds an annual inflation indexing factor. It adds a requirement that applicants comply with the Business License Law to obtain and to retain a permit.
- Financial and budgetary impacts
- This ordinance is submitted as part of an overall package of ordinances to update the regulatory programs administered by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Revenue Division, and ensure adequate funding for the current position performing the regulatory work. The package adjusts applicable fees and charges, adding an inflationary adjustment to support the programs that continue.
- Economic and real estate impacts
- Notices were sent to the addresses and emails listed for each permit holder with information about the proposed changes, the public comment period, and a link to the website where they could learn more and provide comment. The public comment period was open for one month with no feedback received.This permit is required by the State of Oregon if a municipality is to allow for Social Games to operate. The most common application of this is for Poker Rooms. We did not receive any opposition to the proposed increase and do not expect it will substantially impact the permit holders ability to operate. The amount of the increase is a result ofthe City not having increased the annual permit fee since the program inception in 1974, while CPI and other market factors have increased exponentially since that time. We do not expect that any particular area or Council District will be disproportionately impacted as a result of these changes.
- Community impacts and community involvement
- This legislation will increase the annual permit application fee for persons conducting social games activities to account for inflation, which has not been updated for a significant period of time.
- 100% renewable goal
- Not applicable.