Texas Poker Club Reopens After Charges Dropped

The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, Texas, will soon reopen its doors after a nearly two-month closure following a raid by the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC). The state has dropped money laundering and illegal gambling charges against the club, allowing it to resume operations. The Lodge Card Club concluded a tournament series the day prior to the raid, awarding over $200,000 to the main event winner.

Doug Polk, co-owner of The Lodge Card Club, announced the club's reopening on Twitter/X. Polk expressed hope that the club will reopen “within a few weeks.” The Twitter/X post reads, “BREAKING: All charges against myself, my partners, and the Lodge have been officially rejected. The seized money and equipment will be returned and we will reopen as quickly as possible, hopefully within a few weeks.”

The TABC raided the property in March, seizing the club’s funds and assets and forcing the property to shutter its operation. The commission claimed the Lodge and its owners were involved in several crimes related to illegal gambling and money laundering. However, the TABC could not formally charge The Lodge as it was conducting an investigation. The state had until April 9 to file formal charges or release the company’s funds. The deadline passed, but the funds were still frozen until the state removed any possible money laundering charges from the investigation.