Palace Poker Casino is a 24-hour cardroom on Mission Boulevard in Hayward, California, with Texas Hold’em, other live table games, and a full-service restaurant. Its strongest draw is convenience for East Bay players who want cards and a meal without planning a resort trip. The main limitation: this is a cardroom, not a slot casino or hotel getaway. I’d consider it for a local session, provided the game and stakes you want are running.
Palace Poker Casino at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Address | 22821 Mission Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94542 |
| Property type | California cardroom |
| Licensed establishment | Palace Poker Casino, LLC |
| Hours | 24 hours daily; individual game availability varies |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Tables | 13 in the state commission’s listing, not a live count of staffed tables |
| Poker room | Yes, including advertised Texas Hold’em |
| Other advertised games | EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Tiles, Pai Gow Poker, 3 Card Poker, and Blackjack |
| Slots and video poker | No |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| Hotel | No on-site hotel |
| Dining | Full-service restaurant; confirm kitchen hours |
| Phone | (510) 582-1166 |
| Official website | The Palace Poker Casino |
| Information date | October 15, 2026 |
What kind of casino is Palace Poker?
Palace belongs in the neighborhood-cardroom category. The game, seat availability, and collection charges matter much more here than resort amenities.
That focus is not necessarily a drawback. For a nearby Hold’em player, a convenient cardroom can make more sense than a longer drive to a sprawling property. It is a different proposition if your companion wants slots, a pool, or non-gambling entertainment. Our guide to California casinos covers the state’s broader mix of properties.
How its table count compares
The California Gambling Control Commission lists Palace with an active license and 13 tables. For local context, the same listing gives Oaks Card Club in Emeryville 30 tables and Parkwest Casino 580 in Livermore 16. These are licensed counts, not promises about what is open tonight.
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 |
|---|---|
| Officially advertised operating schedule | The property advertises round-the-clock operation every day; this does not establish availability of any particular game. |
| Restaurant amenity | The official site advertises a full-service restaurant, but the opened material does not publish menu prices or kitchen hours. |
| Officially advertised game mix | The property lists Texas hold’em, EZ baccarat, pai gow tiles, pai gow poker, three-card poker, and blackjack; the list is not a live table-availability report. |
| Official visitor contact information | The property publishes 22821 Mission Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94542, and phone number (510) 582-1166. |
| License status and licensed capacity | The commission lists an active license, 13 tables, and an expiration date of January 31, 2028. Licensed tables are not necessarily operating tables. |
| Oaks Card Club: Published comparison capacity | The commission lists 30 licensed tables at this other Alameda County cardroom, allowing a capacity comparison with Palace’s 13. |
| Parkwest Casino 580: Published comparison capacity | The commission lists 16 licensed tables at this Livermore cardroom, allowing a capacity comparison with Palace’s 13. |
| Department of Justice establishment listing | The Department of Justice lists Palace as a licensed Alameda County gambling establishment with game and gaming-activity links. Those links alone do not establish a current floor schedule. |
| Dated directory profile and age policy | The directory’s property description is marked last updated August 1, 2024, and states that visitors must be 21 or older. |
| Dated published poker entry requirements | The directory lists $2–$3–$5 no-limit hold’em with a $100.00 minimum buy-in and no maximum, versus $4–$8 limit hold’em with a $40.00 minimum. These are dated listing details, not confirmed current stakes. |
| Published parking suggestions | The directory suggests Giuliani Plaza Lot 8, Five Flags Lot 9, and the City Hall lot. It does not establish parking prices, time limits, or permission for overnight parking. |
| Customer reviews: Food-service review example | A displayed December 2025 review praises quick food service and the meal. This is one customer’s account, not a measured service-time finding or a review consensus. |
| Customer reviews: Dealer and promotion review example | A displayed April 2025 review praises dealers, splash pots, and high-hand bonuses. It does not establish current promotion terms or eligibility. |
| Palace Card Club rules document: Archived $4–$8 hold’em collection structure | The DOJ-hosted document lists a $4.00 collection with seven to nine players, a $3.00 collection with five or six players, and a separate $1.00 jackpot collection. Current applicability is unconfirmed. |
| Palace Card Club rules document: Archived $3–$6 hold’em collection structure | The DOJ-hosted document lists a $3.00 collection with seven to nine players, a $2.00 collection with five or six players, and a separate $1.00 jackpot collection. Current applicability is unconfirmed. |
| Palace Card Club rules document: Archived short-handed jackpot restriction | The documented $4–$8 hold’em schedule excludes tables with four or fewer players from jackpot qualification and says the jackpot collection will not be taken. Confirm the current policy before relying on it. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed table-count comparison: Oaks Card Club versus Palace Poker | 17 licensed tables | Oaks has a larger licensed table count, but licensed capacity does not establish how many tables or games are running when you visit. |
| Licensed table-count comparison: Parkwest Casino 580 versus Palace Poker | 3 licensed tables | Parkwest Casino 580 has a larger licensed capacity; choose between the rooms based on the actual game, stakes, and waiting list rather than capacity alone. |
| Dated listing comparison: minimum entry bankroll for no-limit versus limit hold’em | $60.00 | The dated listing gives limit hold’em a lower entry requirement. Confirm both buy-ins before traveling; a minimum buy-in is not a session-cost estimate. |
| Archived $4–$8 hold’em schedule: collection plus jackpot at a seven- to nine-player table | $5.00 in combined listed collections | The archived schedule separates the game collection from the jackpot collection. Ask for the current combined charge and when it is taken rather than treating this document as a live price quote. |
| Archived $3–$6 hold’em schedule: collection plus jackpot at a seven- to nine-player table | $4.00 in combined listed collections | Compare the complete collection structure, not just the betting limits. This archived schedule does not establish that the game or its charges remain available. |
Research references: thepalacepokercasino.com, cgcc.ca.gov, oag.ca.gov 3, oag.ca.gov 4.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-15. 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.
Oaks has 17 more licensed tables than Palace; Parkwest Casino 580 has three more. My takeaway: Palace is clearly smaller than Oaks, but capacity alone does not tell you where the better game is. Ask about stakes and the waiting list rather than choosing by table count.
Poker room and table games
Texas Hold’em and live poker
Palace offers player-versus-player poker and advertises Texas Hold’em. Round-the-clock opening is useful, but an open building is not the same thing as a running game at your preferred limit.
Before a dedicated poker trip, I’d call and ask:
- Which Hold’em games are running, and at what blinds or limits?
- What are the minimum and maximum buy-ins?
- How long is the waiting list, and can you join before arriving?
- What collections, jackpot drops, or time charges apply?
Do not assume Omaha, stud, or tournaments are available because an older rules document mentions additional formats. A game permitted on paper is not necessarily one you can sit in today.
Other advertised table games
The lineup also includes EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Tiles, Pai Gow Poker, 3 Card Poker, and Blackjack. Availability depends on the floor, so call if one particular game is the reason for your visit.
Pai Gow Poker and 3 Card Poker are not substitutes for player-versus-player Hold’em. Ask specifically for the poker game you want.
At the other tables, read the posted rules and collection schedule before putting chips down. For blackjack, check the natural-blackjack payout, doubling rules, splitting rules, and any separate collection. A familiar game name does not guarantee familiar costs.
Slots, video poker, and sportsbook
Palace has no slot machines, video poker, or on-property retail sportsbook. If moving between machines is your idea of a casino evening, this is the wrong format, however convenient the address.
Restaurant, hotel, and amenities
The full-service restaurant adds a practical reason to choose Palace: you can plan around cards and a meal without automatically leaving to eat. Do not assume that 24-hour gaming means 24-hour food service. Confirm kitchen hours for a late arrival.
A December 2025 guest comment praises the food and quick service. That is an encouraging individual report, not a measured service-time finding or enough evidence to call the restaurant a dining destination.
There is no on-site hotel. Book accommodation separately if needed, and plan the return trip from the cardroom. I would treat Palace as a cards-and-dining stop rather than build an itinerary around resort amenities.
Guest praise and practical limitations
The available guest comments praise friendly dealers, food, and the compact cardroom atmosphere. An April 2025 comment mentions dealer friendliness, splash pots, and high-hand bonuses; a March 2025 comment praises the small-cardroom format and game variety. These are individual experiences, not a broad consensus.
The casino’s promotions page advertises $40 Hold’em splash pots every 30 minutes during two daily windows: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. Confirm the schedule and eligibility before timing a visit around the offer.
I would not manufacture a recurring-complaint list from limited comments. The clearer trade-offs are the smaller licensed floor, uncertain availability of a specific game, and the need to check nearby parking rules. For a group with mixed interests, the card-focused format is probably the biggest limitation.
Directions, parking, and playing costs
Use 22821 Mission Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94542 for navigation. Compare routes near departure time rather than relying on a generic Bay Area driving estimate.
A dated local listing identifies these nearby parking options:
- Giuliani Plaza Lot 8 at 22700 Mission Boulevard.
- Five Flags Lot 9 at 22874 Mission Boulevard.
- The City Hall lot at 871 B Street.
Treat these as places to check, not guaranteed casino parking. Read posted fees, time limits, and overnight restrictions. If using public transportation, check the return service, too: the cardroom can stay open after your ride home stops running.
Poker buy-ins and collection fees
A local listing last updated in August 2024 described $2/$3/$5 no-limit Hold’em with a $100 minimum buy-in and $4/$8 limit Hold’em with a $40 minimum. The difference was $60, but these are dated entry requirements, not current quotes or estimates of a session’s cost.
An undated DOJ-hosted Palace rules document separates game collections from jackpot collections. For seven to nine players, its charges combine to $5 for the $4/$8 Hold’em schedule and $4 for the $3/$6 schedule. These are historical schedule calculations, not current prices or evidence that either game is running.
The useful lesson is to ask for the complete charge and when it is taken. Lower betting limits do not, by themselves, establish the full cost of playing. Budget separately for transportation, food, tips, and any ATM fees, and keep ride-home money out of your bankroll.
Before your first visit
You must be at least 21 to gamble. Bring valid government-issued photo ID, and speak with floor staff before taking a seat if live cardroom procedures are unfamiliar.
Ask directly about smoking arrangements, accessibility needs, and any rewards or promotions that matter to your visit. A minute getting a clear answer beats planning an evening around an assumption.
Who Palace Poker Casino is best for
Palace suits East Bay players who want a straightforward card session and an on-site meal, especially when its Hayward location saves a longer trip. Individual guest comments offer encouraging reports about dealers, food, and the compact atmosphere, rather than proof of consistently excellent service. Choose a larger destination property if your group wants a hotel, slots, or substantial non-gambling entertainment; here, the deciding question is whether the right game is running when you arrive.
Palace Poker Casino Hayward FAQ
Is Palace Poker Casino open 24 hours?
Yes. It advertises 24-hour operation every day, but individual games and the restaurant may have different availability.
What games does Palace Poker offer?
It advertises Texas Hold’em, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Tiles, Pai Gow Poker, 3 Card Poker, and Blackjack. Call for current games, stakes, and buy-ins.
Does Palace Poker have a poker room?
Yes. It offers player-versus-player poker, including advertised Texas Hold’em. Confirm the current game and waiting list before traveling.
Does Palace Poker have slots or a sportsbook?
No. Palace has no slot machines, video poker, or on-property retail sportsbook.
Does Palace Poker have a hotel or restaurant?
It has a full-service restaurant but no on-site hotel. Confirm kitchen hours separately from casino hours.
What is the minimum gambling age?
The minimum age is 21. Bring valid government-issued photo ID.
Sources and information date
Information date: October 15, 2026. Official property information, the state commission’s listing, and the DOJ-hosted rules document are linked above. Licensed capacity differs from staffed tables, guest comments describe individual experiences, and historical buy-ins and collections are not current price quotes. Confirm games, charges, dining hours, and parking restrictions before a special trip.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no on-site sportsbook.