Lodge Card Club Raid Updates: Everything You Need to Know
The Texas poker community was upended in March 2026 when law enforcement conducted a massive raid on The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock.
As one of the most prominent poker rooms in Texas, the fallout involves high-stakes owners like Doug Polk, allegations of money laundering, and the future of legal poker in the state.
Latest Updates: The Lodge Poker Investigation
- March 31: Doug Polk Addresses Raid in Video; Promises to Make Affected Players Whole
- March 24: The Lodge Lays Off Staff; Announces Closure for "Foreseeable Future"
- March 23: An In-Depth Look at the Texas Gray Area
- March 17: Search Warrant Details Surface
- March 16: Doug Polk Issues Formal Statement & Podcast Update
- March 15: Assets Frozen, But No Charges Filed
- March 12: Money Laundering Allegations Emerge
- March 11: WPT Festival Postponed
- March 11: Doug Polk Addresses the Initial Raid
- March 10: The Raid Begins
March 31: Doug Polk Addresses Raid in Video
Doug Polk, a popular content creator, released his first YouTube video since the Texas poker room he co-owns, The Lodge Card Club, was raided on March 10 over an illegal gambling and money laundering investigation, and he assured players with outstanding poker chips they will get paid.
The heads-up poker legend stood up for his poker club and defended the business model against accusations made by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).
Polk, a three-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, admitted that making the video was a tricky situation given he's a subject in the investigation. He addressed having to lay off hundreds of employees and outstanding player chips.
"When I saw that we had let go of the employees, I did feel a little bit upset for our people. You know, I got to really know a lot of these guys over the course of the last few years, and these are good, hard-working people," Polk said.
The heads-up poker specialist began the 22-minute video explaining why he became interested in purchasing an established card room four years ago in Texas, a state that is strict against gambling. He explained the poker laws, most notably addressing the often-debated law that states "no person receives any economic benefit other than personal winnings."
The poker room co-owner reiterated that The Lodge Card Club is not permanently closed, and left open the possibility for the poker club to reopen despite the employees being laid off. He then addressed a concern among poker players who still have outstanding chips from The Lodge.
"If The Lodge does not make these people whole, I will," Polk said. "I'm taking on seven-figures in personal liability. Not because I have to, but because I want to and I don't want anyone that's involved with this to end up losing their money."
"I'm hoping The Lodge gets to reopen with its money back and pay people out themselves. But only time will tell."
In response, the PokerNews Podcast crew hosted a special emergency episode reacting to Polk's video:
Read: Doug Polk Promises to Personally Pay Poker Players Back if The Lodge Cannot
March 24: The Lodge Lays Off Staff; Announces Closure for "Foreseeable Future"
Employees of The Lodge Card Club were informed via an email in late March that they'd been laid off two weeks following a raid of the popular Texas poker room.
The poker room in the Austin area has remained closed since the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) conducted a raid of the business on March 10, which included seizing evidence and freezing assets. No one has been arrested or charged with any crime yet, but the card room co-owned by Doug Polk has an uncertain future that became even more questionable following an email sent to employees by one of the three majority owners, Jason Levin.
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
Read: Lodge Card Club Shutting Its Doors for "Foreseeable Future"; Staff Informed They've Been Laid Off
March 17: Search Warrant Details Surface
The most recent update on the Lodge Card Club raid comes from new documents that shed light on the scope of the investigation. The search warrant utilized during the initial raid suggests that authorities were looking for specific financial records dating back several months.
Additionally, it details the work of undercover agents who entered the venue and even played sessions of $1/$2 No-Limit Hold'em to aid them with their invesitgation.
Read: The Lodge Poker Club Raid Search Warrant Details
March 16: Doug Polk Issues Formal Statement & Podcast Update
Co-owner Doug Polk broke his silence with a comprehensive statement addressing the club's members and the poker public.
"I did not participate in, and still have no knowledge of, any money laundering in the operation of the Lodge.
I understand that some people assume that because there was a search warrant, a crime must have been committed, but that’s not really how the process works. A search warrant is just one step in an investigation, based on an affidavit from law enforcement."
Additionally, the PokerNews Podcast dedicated a special episode to breaking down the legal nuances of the raid.
March 15: Assets Frozen, But No Charges Filed
In a significant blow to operations, The Lodge Card Club confirmed that its business assets had been frozen by the state. Despite the seizure, management emphasized that no formal charges have been filed against the ownership group.
“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.”
Read: Lodge Assets Frozen Amid Investigation
March 12: Money Laundering Allegations Emerge
Reports surfaced indicating that the investigation may be centered on money laundering charges rather than simple gambling infractions. Chris Porter, TABC Director of Communications, told PokerNews that the investigation was ongoing.
"Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s Financial Crimes Unit, along with members of the Special Investigations Unit and Operations Bureau, executed a search and seizure warrant at Lodge Card Club in conjunction with an ongoing investigation into suspected money laundering and illegal gambling."
Read: Lodge Card Club Money Laundering Charges Explained
Meanwhile, the Lodge released a statement following the raid, emphasizing the Club was closed as a result.
"Our attorneys are working to understand the reasons behind the search, but at this time, the situation has not been explained to us," the statement read.
"This is obviously upsetting, and until this situation is fully understood, The Lodge Card Club is closed."
March 11: WPT Festival Postponed
Following the raid, the highly anticipated World Poker Tour (WPT) festival scheduled to take place at the venue was officially postponed. The festival was set to take place from March 13-15, but was cancelled citing "circumstances outside of WPT’s control that impact event operations"
WPT Festival Postponed Following Law Enforcement Action
March 11: Doug Polk Addresses the Initial Raid
In the immediate aftermath of the law enforcement action, Lodge co-owner Doug Polk took to social media and public platforms to address the poker community directly. Polk’s initial response focused on transparency, confirming the presence of authorities at the Round Rock location while emphasizing the club's commitment to cooperating with the investigation.
Read: Doug Polk Assures Player Funds Safe
March 10: The Raid Begins
The poker world was shocked as law enforcement arrived at the Round Rock location during active play, marking the beginning of the legal saga.
Breaking News: Lodge Card Club Texas Raided
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is The Lodge Card Club currently open?
Status varies. Following the asset freeze on March 15, operations have been severely limited. Check our latest update for the current status.
Who owns The Lodge Poker Club?
The ownership group includes prominent poker professionals Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme, and Brad Owen.
What are the charges against The Lodge?
As of March 17, authorities have investigated allegations of money laundering, though the ownership group maintains that no formal criminal charges have been filed against them personally.