(AsiaGameHub) – The Lodge Card Club—Texas’s largest cardroom—is preparing to reopen after a grand jury decided not to pursue illegal gambling charges against its owners.
“Justice Has Prevailed”
Co-owner Doug Polk made the major announcement. He explained that the decision clears him and his partners, Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen, following weeks of long, stressful uncertainty.
“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,” Polk said on social media.
The club had been under heavy scrutiny since a March raid that raised questions about the legality of its operations.
“Justice has prevailed,” Polk said. “The damage to our staff and members has been tremendous, and it is now time to rebuild. We will be putting together a kickoff event in the near future.”
The ruling marks a dramatic turnaround for a business that seemed on the verge of shutting down completely just a few weeks ago—employees were laid off, and management warned the closure could last indefinitely amid growing legal pressure.
The investigation was triggered by a March 10 raid by Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents, who cited suspicions of illegal gambling and money laundering. The agents seized over $2 million in assets, and players present during the raid were told to leave with chips instead of cashing out.
“Witch Hunt” Is Over
While no immediate criminal charges followed, prosecutors continued to explore whether the club’s model violated Texas gambling laws.
Like many poker rooms in the state, The Lodge operates as a private membership club. This means it does not take a percentage from each pot, but it does charge membership and seat fees—something operators claim complies with legal requirements.
Authorities doubted whether those fees, along with revenue from food, drinks, and events, represented an illegal economic benefit, starting what Polk described as a “witch hunt.”
The case could still have wider implications, as the legality of private Texan poker clubs remains a gray area, and similar operations across the state are watching closely.
This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content.
AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.