Following a massive raid in March, The Lodge Card Club next to Austin, Texas, has made the decision to indefinitely close and also lay off all of its employees, a new report notes. A high-profile story in the space, The Lodge’s raid showcased how authorities in local jurisdictions are cracking down on businesses that operate in the gaming grey zone. Per sources, in a “moving letter” emailed to employees, The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, Texas, has announced it would “shut its doors for the foreseeable future.” Accordingly, the card room was forced to lay off all of its staff, on the grounds of ongoing legal pressure from the authorities. The club was initially closed on March 10th, when the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) completed a controversial raid during which it seized a series of alleged evidence.
For this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming updates coming from the Lone Star State, along with a variety of other news and thoughts you can only find at SBS.
Highly recognizable poker pros Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme, and Brad Owen are some of the owners of the club, which has Polk, Jake Abdalla, and Jason Levin as majority owners and Neeme and Owen as smaller investors, the report notes. In what he described as “the hardest message I’ve ever had to write,” Levin officially confirmed that the poker room would keep its doors shut and all employees would be laid off. “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 it clear to our attorneys that they believe The Lodge’s current business model does not comply with Texas law,” the letter stated.
“For this reason, we cannot reopen,” Levin would continue in the report. “Doing so would run the risk that authorities once again raid The Loge, seize more cash and assets, and potentially make arrests.” Levin also explained they were not given “any indication” regarding a date when the investigation would come to an end, which is why they “have no other viable path forward at this time.”
He was then quoted in the report saying, “As a result, we are forced to make the incredibly difficult decision to let our entire staff go,” Levin said. “We hope you know just how valued each of you is, 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.”
Covered in the same article, another portion of the email was shared. “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,” Levin said. “You made this place what it was. Not the building, not the brand, you.” The raid, followed by the property’s closure, stemmed from the state’s gambling regulations and the “social poker club” model, which allows poker clubs to operate in a gray area by offering peer-to-peer poker games rather than standard gambling. Instead of taking a certain percentage of the pots, these clubs have set either hourly seat rental fees or memberships.
However, a national outlet obtained an affidavit that alleges the now-closed club is based on a series of possible violations, including organized criminal activity, money laundering, and illegal gambling. The document claims that roughly $1.35 million in deposits had been flagged as “suspicious.” Additionally, the same occurred with a series of financial transfers between accounts tied to the business. Plus, the papers mention an undercover operation during which agents went to the club and played poker more than once. The investigation will carry on with no clear deadline in sight. In the meantime, the Lodge’s sister location in San Antonio remains open.
With gambling becoming a more dominant player across the country, local governments are making sure that establishments that are associated with this form of commerce are being held accountable. Of course, the jury is still out on The Lodge in Round Rock, but this scenario further illustrates how serious these local law enforcement units are looking at gaming and its overall impact on their respective communities. The discovery is still developing, but what happens here might have some interesting effects on similar businesses across the country.
After you are all up to speed in relation to the newest gambling notes coming from the Lone Star State, make sure to check out the awesome array of information for you over at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the topic in this report, the Texas online betting sites rundown is a must-read page that goes over a variety of excellent topics and information for qualified patrons. This includes notes like the latest gaming updates coming from the state. Conversely, for those eligible customers, the BetOnline sportsbook review guide is an excellent resource that covers the latest coming from the outlet and more. Finally, if a customer qualifies, the VIP sports betting sites rundown is a very informative page that tracks the latest in higher-stakes wagering and whether it might make sense for them.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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