The Lodge Issues Statement; Assets Frozen & Still No Charges Filed
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The Lodge Card Club issued a fresh statement on Sunday, March 15, providing an update on the situation that has left the Texas poker room closed following a raid by authorities earlier in the week.
The Round Rock venue, co-owned by Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme, and Brad Owen, confirmed that all of the club’s assets and bank accounts have been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation.
In the statement posted on X, the club said it understands the concern among players and staff, particularly with more than 200 employees affected and players holding chips or waiting on tournament payouts.
“We recognize that the closure has had a serious impact for many,” the club wrote. “More than 200 staff members rely on The Lodge for their livelihoods, and many of our members have funds tied up in chips or pending tournament payouts.”
No Charges Filed Yet
Despite the ongoing investigation, The Lodge said it has not been informed of any charges against the business and remains fully cooperative with authorities.
"We can confirm that all of the club’s assets and bank accounts have been frozen."
“We have been told not to re-open until the investigation concludes,” the statement continued. “What we do know is that no charges have been filed, and we remain committed to cooperating fully so that any concerns can be addressed.”
The club added that its legal team has attempted to obtain additional information from authorities but that very little detail has been provided so far.
The statement comes days after authorities from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) executed a search warrant at the poker room as part of an investigation into suspected money laundering and illegal gambling.
Part of an Ongoing Week of Developments
The Sunday update is the latest development in a turbulent week for the Texas poker room.
Earlier coverage from PokerNews detailed how authorities raided the venue shortly after the conclusion of the Lodge Championship Series Main Event, prompting the room to shut its doors while the investigation continues.
Shortly afterward, the card room issued an initial email to members explaining that it was still working with attorneys to understand the situation.
Co-owner Polk later reassured players that their funds were safe, calling the investigation a “witch hunt” while awaiting more information from authorities.
The disruption also forced the postponement of the upcoming World Poker Tour (WPT) Lodge Wildcard event, which had been scheduled to run March 13–15.
No Timeline for Reopening
The Lodge said it currently has no timeline for reopening, noting the longer the club remains closed, the greater the impact will be on staff, vendors, and the wider poker community.
“Unfortunately, we do not know how long this process will take or when we will be allowed to operate again,” the statement read. “The longer our doors remain closed, the greater the impact becomes — not just on the business itself, but on the hundreds of staff members, vendors, partners, and community members who rely on The Lodge every day.”
As of now, no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed, and the poker room says it will provide further updates once more information becomes available.
