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Lodge Poker Room - Austin Texas - Raided this morning by TABC (5 Viewers)

In Maryland, back in the day all the pool halls had illegal but pretty openly displayed slot/poker machines. I always assumed local police got a little cut or something. They were there for decades. But the second that casino licenses got issued they all got raided and shut down.
 
I have been active is Texas politics since the 1980's. I have seen this story play out when the legislature meets - once every two years. Each time there is a big effort to authorize gambling of some sort. Lottery, dog & horse racing and casino gambling. (Poker gets a tiny effort - someone files a bill then it gets set aside and never considered in committee.)

We have the lottery here. Texas also has racing, but its marginally profitable at best. I don't recall ever getting a casino bill through committee, past the Lt. Governor/Speaker and onto the floor for a vote on either side of the legislature. Not likely to happen in 2027. Lots of speculation will take place but that will be it.

Don't count on the Texas Legislature to save Texas poker. They are at best indifferent, at worst openly hostile.

Eking out an existence hiding in a gray area of the law was about the only way for profit poker rooms could happen. And even then, we needed local and state law enforcement to turn a blind eye. If the AG is coming to close down poker in Texas, I expect him to succeed. But the AG is leaving office to run for Senate in 2026. He will be replaced at the end of the year. -=- DrStrange
 
I still don’t get it. 700k/month revenue is very consistent with their business model. Thats the membership fees if they average 10 tables running. A large portion of the revenue is paid in cash. Legal businesses deposit genuine cash revenue into business accounts. Sounds more and more like someone just wanted it shut down
 
Frogzilla said:
I still don’t get it. 700k/month revenue is very consistent with their business model. Thats the membership fees if they average 10 tables running. A large portion of the revenue is paid in cash. Legal businesses deposit genuine cash revenue into business accounts. Sounds more and more like someone just wanted it shut down
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I think it was mentioned that the money was being transferred from The Lodge to a bank account related to a sweeps machine business. Perhaps it's an issue of comingling of funds between separate entities that is making it look like they're trying to obfuscate the money?
 
Anthony Martino said:
I think it was mentioned that the money was being transferred from The Lodge to a bank account related to a sweeps machine business. Perhaps it's an issue of comingling of funds between separate entities that is making it look like they're trying to obfuscate the money?
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These are pretty standard I think, let’s businesses get interest income on their cash they keep in business account. Nothing to do with a sweepstakes online poker or anything like that. Just named similarly

https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/t...w-they-work-and-their-benefits-for-businesses
 
Frogzilla said:
I still don’t get it. 700k/month revenue is very consistent with their business model. Thats the membership fees if they average 10 tables running. A large portion of the revenue is paid in cash. Legal businesses deposit genuine cash revenue into business accounts. Sounds more and more like someone just wanted it shut down
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Yup. It’s a cash business. ATF is saying their business is illegal, therefore the cash is all illegal. Not a good sign for Texas poker.

Dave thinks he’s operating legally so all of his financials will be transparent and all that money is now “illegsl” and recorded. I expect the lodge to shut down, Dave to plead out, and idk if people get their money or not tbh.
 
doublebooyah85 said:
Yup. It’s a cash business. ATF is saying their business is illegal, therefore the cash is all illegal. Not a good sign for Texas poker.

Dave thinks he’s operating legally so all of his financials will be transparent and all that money is now “illegsl” and recorded. I expect the lodge to shut down, Dave to plead out, and idk if people get their money or not tbh.
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yea. As it stands doesn’t look like lodge was doing anything particularly unique. At least evidence I’ve seen. My guess is someone wants Texas poker shut down and started with the lodge, or someone wants certain Texas poker to have less competition. There is a WSOP event down the street from them in a month. Will be interesting to see if it proceeds.

https://www.wsop.com/tournaments/2026-wsop-circuit-texas-card-house/
 
What does this mean for all of the other poker rooms/clubs in Texas, have any of them shared their thoughts on the situation?
 
club_pkr said:
What does this mean for all of the other poker rooms/clubs in Texas, have any of them shared their thoughts on the situation?
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Good chance they start to go down. Awful news for that resort they built. Champions club?
 
Just like @Frogzilla was saying, TCH is scheduled to host a WSOP event towards the end of next month so we're all really curious to see how that pans out.

I've never made a habit of taking chips home to cash out later. Even with my small buyins and cash outs it was always better to have cash in hand before leaving (or just leaving my buyins on the table lol).
 
toothpic said:
I've never made a habit of taking chips home to cash out later. Even with my small buyins and cash outs it was always better to have cash in hand before leaving (or just leaving my buyins on the table lol).
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Yeah usually my strategy. Hate leaving a table with cash or chips, safer to just let someone else have it.
 
NotRealNameNoSir said:
Yeah usually my strategy. Hate leaving a table with cash or chips, safer to just let someone else have it.
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Seat open for you always lol

Come Sit Down GIF by Bounce
 
But let’s be selfish chippers for a moment. Do any of these card rooms use Paulson chips we can get our hands on??
 

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