No Criminal Charges Filed After Raid on Texas Poker Club

AUSTIN, TX — Authorities did not file criminal charges against a prominent Texas poker club before a key legal deadline, but more than $2 million seized in a raid will remain in state custody as the case continues.

A court document filed April 8 in Williamson County explains why the state is retaining assets from The Lodge Card Club near Austin, even though no charges were filed before the 30-day civil asset forfeiture deadline expired Thursday.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, working with an Internal Revenue Service agent, raided the club March 10 on suspicion of money laundering, organized crime and illegal gambling, according to a previously leaked search warrant. The nine-page filing indicates the state is no longer pursuing money laundering allegations and is instead focusing on potential illegal gambling violations.

The future of the club remains uncertain. While the lack of charges means the investigation has not advanced to criminal court, it does not preclude prosecutors from filing charges later.

Under Texas law, gambling is generally prohibited, but poker can be legal if it occurs in a private place and no participant receives economic benefit beyond personal winnings. Many poker advocates argue that membership-based clubs like The Lodge comply with the law by not collecting a rake, though critics dispute that interpretation.

Illegal gambling, defined as keeping a gambling place, is a Class A misdemeanor in Texas, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Legal experts note that securing a conviction could be difficult given the ambiguity in how the law applies to membership-based poker rooms.

The Lodge Card Club opened in 2018 and later drew high-profile investors from the poker community. State regulators have targeted several of its प्रमुख stakeholders in the investigation.

Texas law requires authorities to file a civil asset forfeiture case within 30 days of seizing property. In this case, officials met that requirement, allowing them to retain the funds while the civil case proceeds. Asset forfeiture cases require only probable cause, a lower standard than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” threshold needed for criminal convictions.

Possible outcomes include the state filing gambling-related charges, the club successfully challenging the forfeiture, or a prolonged legal dispute over the seized assets.

The club’s Austin location, one of the largest poker rooms in Texas with nearly 70 tables, has remained closed since the raid. A separate San Antonio location continues to operate. It is unclear when or whether the Austin site will reopen as legal proceedings move forward.