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2026 poker

Featured Replies

#1

The lodge got raided and shut down today
Fuckers better not be shut down for good, I have $1000 worth of hours and another year and a half membership
Supposedly TABC was part of the raid so probably underage drinking related.

No image preview

Authorities Raid The Lodge Card Club, Texas' Largest Poke...

The room is co-owned by Brad Owen and Doug Polk.

#6

IRS involved. Money laundering and illegal gambling per reports.

SO who is not paying their taxes or running a book at the Lodge?

#7

Probably not a raid on the legality of hourly-rate poker, or they would have hit more than just the Lodge, right? Something shady going on there specifically, allegedly?

Damn, that was my favorite poker room in town by a lot.

Edited by TexArcher

  • Author
#8
2 hours ago, deech said:

Money laundering and illegal gambling

heard the same from someone who would know

Hopefully not hourly rate poker being the illegal gambling.

Never understood why they got a liquor license, inviting the jackasses at TABC to have a reason to look around

#9

Yeah TABC issued a statement today that mentioned the money laundering and illegal gambling accusations.

There is no way this is the opening salvo of an attack on card rooms. I don't think. The IRS involvement means someone wasn't paying Uncle Sam and they reached out to the TABC to help. It also seems fishy to me that they raid the Round Rock location and not the San Antonio location as well.

I think it also makes sense that the Lodge is one of the largest and one of the most vocal poker rooms in attempting to get legislation passed. So maybe it is the first salvo in coming after card rooms, but I don't think the TABC just woke up and decided todays the day we are going to try to do something about things.

#10
No image preview

TABC issues statement after raid on The Lodge poker club

TABC issues a statement after a raid on The Lodge Card Club, confirming an ongoing investigation into suspected money laundering and illegal gambling.

tabc confirms its for Money Laundering and "illegal" gambling

who knows maybe someone was running a sports book on the side and got caught

#11
16 hours ago, blacklab said:

Never understood why they got a liquor license, inviting the jackasses at TABC to have a reason to look around

100% agree. Felt like a bad decision as soon as I heard about it.

#12
21 hours ago, blacklab said:

heard the same from someone who would know

Hopefully not hourly rate poker being the illegal gambling.

Never understood why they got a liquor license, inviting the jackasses at TABC to have a reason to look around

Thought this years ago. 👆

I get that it can be more money for the rooms, but everything I had read prior to them and other rooms getting or wanting to get a liquor license, it just opens the room up for for more minute scrutiny from TABC. Seems to never be good for rooms that have done this.

#14

This is probably gonna jam up the games at TCH until they open the lodge back up. I was gonna swing by last night, but noticed an obscene number of people on the 1/2 waiting list, so I bailed on the idea. It is interesting that the SA Lodge room is still open for bidness.

#15
8 minutes ago, Blotto said:

This is probably gonna jam up the games at TCH until they open the lodge back up. I was gonna swing by last night, but noticed an obscene number of people on the 1/2 waiting list, so I bailed on the idea. It is interesting that the SA Lodge room is still open for bidness.

The SA room is somehow a different entity. They don't share membership lists and hours etc don't transfer.

#16
19 hours ago, MagicSoccerSpray said:

The SA room is somehow a different entity. They don't share membership lists and hours etc don't transfer.

Right, but if we are investigating illegal gambling and money laundering I think that both sites would have been raided together. I don't know how the TABC tells the Lodge they can't reopen either unless they are going to raid every poker room in the state with a liquor license (which they could).

#17
1 hour ago, deech said:

Right, but if we are investigating illegal gambling and money laundering I think that both sites would have been raided together. I don't know how the TABC tells the Lodge they can't reopen either unless they are going to raid every poker room in the state with a liquor license (which they could).

I'm guessing this is political pressure from some segment of the TABC/legislature to force the issue of legal poker at the state level. Maybe the evangelicals pressuring a move to try to stop it.

Imo the state needs to go ahead and legislate some regulation and shut down the blatant table raking going on in Houston and other areas that is somehow not worth raiding, instead of shutting down the Lodge.

#18
5 minutes ago, MagicSoccerSpray said:

I'm guessing this is political pressure from some segment of the TABC/legislature to force the issue of legal poker at the state level. Maybe the evangelicals pressuring a move to try to stop it.

Imo the state needs to go ahead and legislate some regulation and shut down the blatant table raking going on in Houston and other areas that is somehow not worth raiding, instead of shutting down the Lodge.

If the evangelicals are waking up to take on the big bad poker rooms in Texas, they go after TCH and Lodge San Antonio both IMHO at a minimum as the opening salvo. This smells honestly of a player with a book (and maybe it is a dealer or someone in management) who hasn't paid taxes/winnings and they are using the gray area of the law to put maximum pressure on the other players/Doug/Lodge management to provide positive testimony against their target from the money laundering perspective.

The other thought/conspiracy theory I have is that Paxton is swapping campaign donations from TCH owners/operators to hit the Lodge. I believe sometime last year TCH was advertising that Paxton was going to play on one of their live streams. I don't think he did, but it wouldn't surprise me if this was true.

#19
29 minutes ago, deech said:

If the evangelicals are waking up to take on the big bad poker rooms in Texas, they go after TCH and Lodge San Antonio both IMHO at a minimum as the opening salvo. This smells honestly of a player with a book (and maybe it is a dealer or someone in management) who hasn't paid taxes/winnings and they are using the gray area of the law to put maximum pressure on the other players/Doug/Lodge management to provide positive testimony against their target from the money laundering perspective.

The other thought/conspiracy theory I have is that Paxton is swapping campaign donations from TCH owners/operators to hit the Lodge. I believe sometime last year TCH was advertising that Paxton was going to play on one of their live streams. I don't think he did, but it wouldn't surprise me if this was true.

I did also get an email from TCH to vote for Seitz in the AG race who was Paxton's little henchman. I hadn't heard of him and thought "oh maybe it's a person who is actually pro-business rather than some hardline morality culture war kook and looked him up and HAHAHA NO.

#20
5 hours ago, deech said:

If the evangelicals are waking up to take on the big bad poker rooms in Texas, they go after TCH and Lodge San Antonio both IMHO at a minimum as the opening salvo. This smells honestly of a player with a book (and maybe it is a dealer or someone in management) who hasn't paid taxes/winnings and they are using the gray area of the law to put maximum pressure on the other players/Doug/Lodge management to provide positive testimony against their target from the money laundering perspective.

The other thought/conspiracy theory I have is that Paxton is swapping campaign donations from TCH owners/operators to hit the Lodge. I believe sometime last year TCH was advertising that Paxton was going to play on one of their live streams. I don't think he did, but it wouldn't surprise me if this was true.

Some folks online were speculating this might be due to Rampage and Nic Airball becoming partners/investors. Supposedly they might not be lilly white tax wise, regulatory, etc.

4 hours ago, TXSooner518 said:

I did also get an email from TCH to vote for Seitz in the AG race who was Paxton's little henchman. I hadn't heard of him and thought "oh maybe it's a person who is actually pro-business rather than some hardline morality culture war kook and looked him up and HAHAHA NO.

Yeah, because it's TABC and not the AG, I think it might be a niche political move. Maybe those evangelical oil guys out of Midland. I doubt it was TCH, as they seem in step with the Lodge guys on the need to coordinate politically in the state.

#23

Every poker room in Texas should immediately stop selling alcohol and turn in their beverage license.

  • Author
#24

Seems like bullshit.

Place has 10-20 tables running 10-15 hours a day with most people paying cash for their time it's going to deposit a bunch of money into the bank on a regular basis.

15 tables x 10 hours a day x 10 people x $12 an hour is $18,000 a day = $540k a month and they are suspicious of $1.35 million in deposits over a period of time?

Figured this was going to be about some of the players on stream buying and selling chips without AML stuff.

#25
7 minutes ago, blacklab said:

Seems like bullshit.

Place has 10-20 tables running 10-15 hours a day with most people paying cash for their time it's going to deposit a bunch of money into the bank on a regular basis.

15 tables x 10 hours a day x 10 people x $12 an hour is $18,000 a day = $540k a month and they are suspicious of $1.35 million in deposits over a period of time?

Figured this was going to be about some of the players on stream buying and selling chips without AML stuff.

Agreed. Money is a drop in the bucket over a month. I thought for sure with the IRS involvement there was going to be a bookie or someone else in a managerial position at the Lodge or dealing maybe and pulling in players and shifting around chips as a way to pay bets off. The allegations of money laundering are the weakest I've seen in a matter like this.

  • Author
#26
I have obtained a copy of the warrant for search and seizure of The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, TX.

For various reasons, I do not feel it is appropriate to post the warrant publicly. However, I am going to summarize a lot of it and give my opinions below.

🧵
#27

i know its 3 days old but the pokernews guys did a podcast based on the March 17th info dropping that basically falls back and says

A. its becaues of the Alcohol being sold during a cash tournament (keeping in mind the license was approved AFTER the Abbot memo came out saying cash + alcohol = illegal)

B. Its looking like Greg Abbott has led the charge to close the poker loophole and make sure that he can save Texans from those evil gamblers out there.

C. because of the memo from the AG saying cash + tourney is illegal, then all funds earned by the Lodge since then have been illegal and thus they have been laundering illegal money.

D. in short, its an end around to associate drinking and gambling. and I agree with Deech above. TCH needs to voluntarily give up their liquor license immediately. Otherwise this ruling allows the state to go into any room that also serves and close them down.

#28

Thank goodness we have such a wise and paternal state to steer us toward the virtues of scratch-off tickets and liquor and away from the sins of poker and weed. And it protects our individual liberties and keeps us safe from big government at the same time. What a deal!

  • Author
#29

Employees were sent the following today:

This is the hardest message I’ve ever had to write.

When we started this journey, there were no guarantees—only belief, grit, and a shared commitment to build something meaningful. Through the early challenges, we found our footing together. We built relationships, earned trust, and created a place that was more than just a business. It became a community—because of you.

Each of you played a role in bringing that vision to life. From the front desk to the porters, dealers, managers, and production team—every detail, every interaction, every long day and late night added up to something truly special. You made this place what it was. Not the building, not the brand—you.

That’s why it’s so painful to say that The Lodge Round Rock location will need to shut its doors for the foreseeable future. While no charges have been brought, and we maintain that the club has always operated with the utmost integrity and within the laws of Texas, the Williamson County District Attorney’s office has made clear to our attorneys that they believe The Lodge’s current business model does not comply with Texas law. For this reason, we cannot re-open. Doing so would run the risk that authorities might once again raid The Lodge, seize more cash and assets, and potentially make arrests. Because we have not been given any indication of when the investigation will conclude, we have no other viable path forward at this time. As a result, we are forced to make the incredibly difficult decision to let our entire staff go. We hope you know just how valued each of you are, and as we hope for a favorable outcome, should we be able to once again open our doors, our plan would be to welcome you back with open arms.

There are no words that fully capture how much this hurts—not just as a business decision, but on a human level. I am deeply grateful for everything you’ve given, and I will carry that with me always. You didn’t just show up to work—you built something that mattered.

As we now turn to the difficult task of determining what comes next, please know that each of you has my respect, my appreciation, and my sincere thanks. I hope you take pride in what we created together, because it was real, and it was special.

I will miss all of you more than I can say.

With a heavy heart,

Jason Levin

#31

ahh yes... Wilco + gamblin= loss of 200 jobs, loss of tens of thousands of dollars in tax being paid to the state and county, all so that the fucking assholes can say they have saved Wilco from the big gambling scourge.

#34
1 hour ago, Brian Fantana said:

TCH owner is also close personal friends with Ken Paxton so I'm sure they'll find some exemption

I always felt that this was a TCH hatchet job with Paxton taking some money for the investigation. If they are in the same county, they should be raided immediately.

#35
37 minutes ago, deech said:

I always felt that this was a TCH hatchet job with Paxton taking some money for the investigation. If they are in the same county, they should be raided immediately.

Yeah would be less than shocking

#36
45 minutes ago, deech said:

I always felt that this was a TCH hatchet job with Paxton taking some money for the investigation. If they are in the same county, they should be raided immediately.

You can’t really say that until the specific charges are known. It doesn’t seem like they are going after poker rooms in general or there would have been multiple raids simultaneously.

#37
27 minutes ago, TonyTexas said:

You can’t really say that until the specific charges are known. It doesn’t seem like they are going after poker rooms in general or there would have been multiple raids simultaneously.

Information about the arrest warrant have been published. The TABC cited an older AG opinion in its enforcement actions that even private places that have tournaments for money that have a liquor license are illegal under Texas law. Any poker room in the state that has a liquor license is now on notice that the TABC can and will investigate/raid. The only sensible move would be for all those places to turn in their TABC licenses and not sell alcohol any more.

Also maintaining a secure front door that only members can get through will help as opposed to being able to walk in and go straight to the bar to order a drink.

#38
On 3/22/2026 at 9:11 PM, TexArcher said:

Thank goodness we have such a wise and paternal state to steer us toward the virtues of scratch-off tickets and liquor and away from the sins of poker and weed. And it protects our individual liberties and keeps us safe from big government at the same time. What a deal!

I fucking hate this state and the worthless voters who keep these puds in charge. Puddles of shit.

#39

This popped up today on my youtube feed. Not a whole lot of new information, but Doug does break everything down and state what they do/dont know at this time. Or at least what his lawyers OK'd him discussing at this time. Sounds like Apr 9 is the deadline for the authorities to file that they are keeping the assets they seized, so maybe more information comes out around that date. He does go out of his way to dispel some rumors, including that the folks at TCH had something to do with it, which he doesn't believe.

#40
1 hour ago, Blotto said:

This popped up today on my youtube feed. Not a whole lot of new information, but Doug does break everything down and state what they do/dont know at this time. Or at least what his lawyers OK'd him discussing at this time. Sounds like Apr 9 is the deadline for the authorities to file that they are keeping the assets they seized, so maybe more information comes out around that date. He does go out of his way to dispel some rumors, including that the folks at TCH had something to do with it, which he doesn't believe.

I wonder if it comes to it, whether they will reimburse hours/time money as well.

#42

I love the fact that I have a negative hours balance there as they allowed it before switching over to the pay in advance model. LOL

  • Author
#43

You and a few thousand others.

Talked to a manager that is now at TCH. They had hundreds of thousands of dollars in walked tabs. Most of those players were never coming back because of their tab. He recommended having an amnesty week for people to come in and wipe it clean so they would start playing again but management was against it.

#44

Houston places don't allow negative balances. So when the Lodge did it it blew my mind a bit as we were just in for the weekend to play the Livestream.

#45

I'm a little curious that the feds were involved. I had heard that the government was so focused on deporting people that they weren't investigating any crimes.

#46
4 minutes ago, Bookman said:

I'm a little curious that the feds were involved. I had heard that the government was so focused on deporting people that they weren't investigating any crimes.

There was a singular irs agent. That was all.

#47

Texas Government told the Lodge on Apr 8 that the government is keeping the $2m they seized during the raid. No charges files otherwise. and based on what the poker podcast is saying the only charges still active are the illegal gambling charges. The money laundering seems to have been dropped.

the governments argument is Lodge made an economic benefit by keeping some administrative funds for running cash tournaments, and because they were selling food and beverages to players, that also counts as an economic benefit.

thats a serious problem for every other room now because almost all rooms at a minimum sell cokes or chips for $2. nevermind what TCH and other larger rooms have going on with a full restaurant going on. Under the 2024 Abbott memo that means they are getting an economic benefit... which pretty means the government has, in effect declared poker rooms illegal and can raid all the other rooms at any time.

#48

also motherfuck everyone in the face that loves to brag about this state or country being free but supporting civil forfeiture. just an absolute crock of horseshit.

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