Empire Sportsmen’s Association Modesto is a California-listed cardroom on McHenry Avenue, best suited to nearby players looking for a local card-playing session rather than a casino-resort getaway. Its strongest appeal is convenience for Modesto-area players, with friendly employees a recurring theme in the available guest reports. The main limitation is uncertainty about current games, stakes, and collection charges. I would put it on a local card player’s shortlist, but not build an out-of-town weekend around an old poker schedule.
Quick facts
| Property type | California cardroom |
|---|---|
| Location | Modesto, Stanislaus County, California |
| Listed address | 5001 McHenry Ave, Modesto, CA 95356 |
| Listed phone | +1 209-522-8400 |
| Listed hours | 24 hours daily, according to a third-party directory; confirm before traveling |
| Regulatory listing | Included in the California DOJ’s licensed gambling-establishment list; real-time operations are not independently confirmed |
| Historically reported games | Blackjack, pai gow, baccarat, Three Card Poker, and poker; current availability unconfirmed |
| Source-record retrieval date | October 11, 2026; not a firsthand visit or telephone confirmation |
The address, phone number, and hours come from Wanderlog’s property listing. That page groups the attraction under Lodi despite giving a Modesto address. Use the street address for directions, not the destination heading.
Property overview: a Modesto cardroom
The California Gambling Control Commission’s work-permit directory identifies Empire Sportsmen’s Association as a cardroom in the City of Modesto, Stanislaus County. Whatever the name suggests, approach it as a place to play cards, not a hunting, fishing, or outdoor recreation destination.
The commission’s August 24, 2023 meeting minutes identify the cardroom-owner entity as Empire Sportsmen’s Association, a nonprofit corporation. That historical corporate designation does not establish a visitor membership requirement.
Empire also appears in the California Department of Justice’s licensed-establishment list, with Games and Gaming Activities links. A regulatory listing is useful, but it does not tell you whether your preferred table will be running tonight. For broader destination options, see our guide to California casinos.
Games and casino floor
Cards are the reason to consider Empire. the published information does not establish a current floor size, installed table count, high-limit area, or complete game inventory.
Poker-in.com’s October 6, 2026 listing reports authorization for ten tables under license GEGE-000990, citing the commission’s register. Read that as a reported licensing ceiling, not ten poker tables or ten games running when you arrive.
Table games
A guest post on URComped’s Empire Sportsmen’s Association page, labeled seven years old in the supplied record, reports blackjack, pai gow, baccarat, and Three Card Poker, with round-the-clock table games. This is historical visitor reporting, not a current lineup or schedule.
My advice is to ask about the actual game, not just its familiar name. Rules, banking arrangements, and collection charges at a California cardroom can differ from what a player expects at a Nevada casino. Before buying chips, ask for the rules, minimum and maximum wagers, and any charge for playing. No current minimum-bet range is established here.
Poker availability and collections
The same historical guest account describes scheduled poker, but it is too old to use as a timetable. Today’s variants, stakes, tournaments, and poker-table count remain unconfirmed. Ask which game is running, the buy-in requirements, the rake or drop, and whether there is a waiting list.
One historical detail worth asking about is short-handed collections. Empire’s Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hi-Lo schedule, marked modified September 19, 2007, in the DOJ-hosted game document specifies a $3 collection per hand when five or fewer players are seated. That is an old table-collection provision, not a current price quote or a $3 charge to every player. Ask whether today’s collection changes as the table gets short-handed.
Slots and video poker
Do not choose Empire for a slot-machine or video poker outing. Its documented identity is a cardroom, and the available material does not establish either product. A July 2024 guest mentioned the removal of a small game machine, but that does not establish what the machine was or today’s inventory. Live poker is not video poker.
Sportsbook
There is no on-site sportsbook.
Hotel, food, and amenities
The available material does not establish an on-site hotel, full-service restaurant, or resort amenities. Arrange lodging separately for an overnight trip. I see little reason to book a room specifically for Empire until you have confirmed the game you want.
Simple refreshments appear in guest reports. A July 2023 reviewer described complimentary hot dogs and inexpensive nonalcoholic beverages. Older URComped posts mention free food, with one mentioning coffee while playing. These are dated visitor experiences, not a current menu or guaranteed benefit.
Ask what is served during your planned session and whether conditions apply. A complimentary snack is a pleasant extra, not a reason to keep gambling after your budget says stop. Plan other dining and entertainment separately unless the property confirms suitable options.
Directions, playing costs, and visit checklist
Use 5001 McHenry Avenue, Modesto when planning your route. Parking charges, valet service, accessible parking arrangements, and the best entrance are not established in the supplied records.
The biggest missing piece for a value comparison is the current cost of playing. The DOJ’s Central Valley cardroom directory describes its linked documents as approved game rules and collection rates, while advising visitors to contact individual cardrooms for the most current information. The historical Empire provision above does not establish today’s fees, so there is no supported current dollar-cost comparison to report.
I would separate the budget into money brought to the table, charges associated with playing, and expenses outside the game. A cash-game poker buy-in is not automatically an admission fee, and a collection charge is not a minimum wager. Food, transportation, and any hotel bill belong in their own category.
- Games: What will be running at your arrival time, and can you join a waiting list?
- Money: What are the stakes, collections, accepted payment methods, and ATM arrangements?
- Entry: Confirm the minimum age and any registration requirements, and bring government-issued photo identification.
- Comfort: Check smoking rules, accessibility arrangements, and seating for nonplaying companions.
- Getting home: Keep transportation money outside your gambling bankroll, and arrange a sober ride if you drink.
Rewards and membership
No current loyalty program or visitor membership requirement is established here. Ask about enrollment and promotions if they matter to you. The word “association” is not enough to conclude that membership must be purchased before playing.
Guest reviews: praise and limitations
Friendly employees are the clearest recurring positive theme in the selected accounts, appearing in Wanderlog’s dated 2022 and 2024 reviews and older URComped posts. Some older guests also appreciate the sociable atmosphere and refreshments.
Service opinions differ. A July 2023 reviewer thought some dealers could be friendlier, while older URComped comments criticize waitress service. Staff interactions appear to be part of Empire’s appeal for some players, but these reports do not promise the same experience on every shift.
A July 2024 visitor praised courteous staff and remodeling but reported no seating area for someone waiting on a player. That is one dated account, not a confirmed current layout. Still, ask about companion seating before bringing someone who does not gamble.
the calculations put five-star reviews at approximately 57.8% and one-star reviews at approximately 12.0% of Wanderlog’s displayed Google-review distribution. These figures describe the intermediary’s snapshot only, not a representative survey, a prediction of your visit, or gambling odds.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| State licensed-establishment listing | The California DOJ includes Empire in its licensed gambling-establishment list, with Games and Gaming Activities links, in Stanislaus County’s Central Valley region. This establishes its regulatory listing, not live table availability. |
| Regulatory game-document availability | The DOJ row provides both Games and Gaming Activities links. The opened material does not include their underlying rules, paytables, or collection rates. |
| And Mike’s Card Casino: Same-county regulatory listing comparison | Both properties appear under Stanislaus County, but Empire has a Gaming Activities link, while Mike’s is marked No Gaming Activities. These labels should not be interpreted as a comparison of opening hours. |
| Turlock Poker Room: Same-county cardroom comparison candidate | Turlock Poker Room is another Stanislaus County establishment with Games and Gaming Activities links. The opened list supplies no comparable stakes, fees, or travel costs. |
| Commission work-permit jurisdiction | The California Gambling Control Commission’s work-permit table places Empire in the City of Modesto and Stanislaus County. |
| California DOJ cardroom rule documents: Published rules and collection-rate policy | The regional directory describes linked PDFs as approved game rules and collection rates, making these the appropriate next sources for a reproducible playing-cost comparison. |
| California DOJ cardroom rule documents: Currency and source limitation | The DOJ says establishments submit the documents, the website is updated monthly, and visitors should contact individual cardrooms for the most current information. |
| Third-party listed address | Wanderlog lists a Modesto street address despite grouping the page under Lodi. Use the street address rather than the page’s destination grouping for visit planning. |
| Third-party listed telephone | Wanderlog lists +1 209-522-8400 as the property’s telephone number; the opened material does not establish that a call was completed. |
| Third-party listed opening hours | Wanderlog lists round-the-clock hours every day. Treat this as a directory schedule, not direct confirmation of current operations or continuous availability of every game. |
| Published aggregate review snapshot | Wanderlog displays a Google-sourced rating of 4.0 out of 5 from 251 reviews. This is the intermediary’s displayed snapshot, not an independently collected review dataset. |
| Reported service and nonplayer seating | A July 2024 reviewer praised courteous, helpful staff and remodeling but reported no seating area for someone waiting. This is a dated visitor account, not a verified current amenity policy. |
| Reported complimentary food and beverage cost | A July 2023 reviewer reported free hot dogs and low-cost nonalcoholic beverages, alongside mixed comments about dealer friendliness. No beverage price or current complimentary-food policy is established. |
| Historical visitor-reported game schedule and refreshments | An URComped post labeled seven years old reports poker at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., round-the-clock blackjack, pai gow, baccarat, and Three Card Poker, plus free food and coffee while playing. Preserve this only as a historical visitor account, not a current schedule or offer. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Five-star share of Wanderlog’s displayed Google review distribution | 57.7689243028 percent of displayed reviews | Use this alongside the one-star share to understand the displayed review mix, not as a prediction of your visit or gambling results. |
| One-star share of Wanderlog’s displayed Google review distribution | 11.9521912351 percent of displayed reviews | Read the specific complaints alongside favorable feedback; a low rating does not establish unfavorable game rules or payout odds. |
Research references: oag.ca.gov 1, cgcc.ca.gov, oag.ca.gov 3, wanderlog.com, urcomped.com.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-11. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
Complaints about losses and unfavorable hands do not establish dealing integrity or mathematical value. Another player’s winning session tells you nothing dependable about your chances, either. Rules, payouts, and collection charges are the useful evidence for evaluating a game.
The supplied Wanderlog excerpts extend through October 2025; the URComped posts are older. They help identify questions to ask but are weaker evidence for today’s food service, layout, or poker schedule.
Empire versus other Stanislaus County cardrooms
The state list also includes Turlock Poker Room and Mike’s Card Casino in Stanislaus County. Empire and Turlock have Games and Gaming Activities links, while Mike’s is marked No Gaming Activities. These are directory labels, not rankings of game quality, opening hours, or live-table availability.
For a useful comparison, ask each room the same questions: Is your preferred game running, what will it cost to play, and how long is the wait? Then consider the drive. Without comparable current stakes and collections, calling one room cheaper would be guesswork. A suitable live game and a shorter trip may matter more than a longer historical game list.
Who Empire Sportsmen’s Association is best for
Best for: Modesto-area card players who want a local session and will confirm games, stakes, and charges before heading over.
Less suitable for: Slot and video poker players, nonplaying companions expecting substantial amenities, and travelers seeking an all-in-one casino hotel weekend.
My bottom line: choose Empire for a confirmed game, not assumptions attached to the name. The reports suggest a local, social appeal, but missing current game and cost details make a phone call part of the planning.
Frequently asked questions
Is Empire Sportsmen’s Association open 24 hours?
Wanderlog lists 24-hour daily operations, and Empire appears in the supplied California DOJ licensed-establishment list. Neither confirms real-time opening or continuous game availability. Call the listed number, +1 209-522-8400, before a special trip.
What games does Empire offer?
Historical guest reports name blackjack, pai gow, baccarat, Three Card Poker, and poker. Confirm the current lineup, rules, and stakes directly.
Can I play poker there?
Poker is historically reported, but a current cash-game or tournament schedule is not established. Ask about the game running, buy-in requirements, collections, and waiting list.
Does it have slots, a hotel, or a sportsbook?
None is established in the available material. Treat Empire as a cardroom visit, arrange lodging separately, and do not plan around slot play or retail sports wagering.
Is food free?
Older guest accounts mention complimentary food, including a July 2023 report of free hot dogs. Current offerings, serving times, and eligibility conditions are unconfirmed.
What is the minimum gambling age?
The supplied property-specific sources do not establish the entry age. Confirm directly before visiting, and bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Sources and editorial research note
This guide uses supplied regulator pages, directory listings, and review-aggregator records retrieved October 11, 2026. Each external source is linked once at its relevant use. Gamboool’s contribution is the assembled regulatory comparison, playing-cost distinctions, review-theme synthesis, and supplied arithmetic on the displayed review distribution.
The selected guest accounts are subjective and often several years old. No firsthand visit, telephone interview, current fee schedule, or independent review dataset is claimed. The existing property image is retained; media licensing remains a separate editorial decision. This rewrite is ready for user editorial review, not independently fact-checked. Current operations, games, fees, and visitor policies remain subject to owner review before a separate publishing action.