Here are the cards, how will they play?

Someone jokingly pointed out this week that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for consenting adults to exercise their vices in Chula Vista.

After a superior court ordered Eyecandy Showgirls —an all nude strip joint at the city’s bayfront — close its doors this summer, the only place for adults seeking other grown up thrills like gambling was down the street at Seven Mile Casino. Until Wednesday.

That’s when federal agents descended on the brand new card room and served a warrant in connection with an alleged money laundering scheme. It’s also when the facility’s owner, Harvey Souza, was arrested and the state shut down the glitzy card room that had the mayor and City Council members so excited they just had to be at Seven Mile’s summer time ribbon cutting. It will be interesting to see how many of those same electeds showed up to Souza’s arraignment in federal court Thursday afternoon.

The septuagenarian whose family has been dominating Chula Vista’s gaming industry for decades isn’t the focal point of the FBI’s investigation. That distinction appears to belong to David “Fat Dave” Stroj, who ran into similar trouble years ago in Pennsylvania.

Souza is mentioned in only one count, facing an allegation that his card room did not do enough to prevent crooks from hiding illegal funds from the government.

A trial, if this case gets that far, will sort that out.

The city’s take of the card room revenue is just slightly above half a million dollars in tax revenue. If Seven Mile is permanently shuttered that loss of income will be a big hit to city coffers, not to mention the loss of revenue generated by the sales tax paid by local-shopping employees of the card room who now find themselves suddenly out of work and unable to collect a paycheck.

But that’s yet to be determined. For now Souza, “Fat Dave”, Seven Mile employees and the city of Chula Vista will have to watch how this federal case develops.

The city, like the courts, will have to be especially diligent in pursuing justice. In the same way they scrutinized EyeCandy for possible violations of permits and city regulations in an effort to shut it down, they’ll have to apply that same vigorous energy to guarantee Seven Mile played by the rules and didn’t cut corners or break any laws.

It’s not the first time Souza and his gambling enterprise has been targeted by law enforcment. The joint, when it was known as Village Card Room on Broadway, was raided by the feds in 2014. Authorities also contend Souza has tried to hide a $3 million construction loan. Who is bluffing and who is telling the truth?

City leaders can’t afford to appear as though they’re going easy on a man who for decades has made his presence felt politically and economically in Chula Vista. It will be telling to see how they play the hand they’ve just been dealt.