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State of Play’s TL;DR
- A Williamson County Grand Jury returned a “no bill” for The Lodge, meaning no criminal indictment.
- That decision paves the way for the Austin-area poker room to recover seized assets and plan a near-term reopening.
On March 10, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) raided The Lodge Card Club, seizing assets including more than $1.3 million in cash and prompting closure of the Round Rock poker room.
Allegations included money laundering, illegal gambling, and organized crime. Money laundering charges were later dropped, and on April 28, a Williamson County grand jury heard a presentation from a representative of The Lodge. The panel returned a “no bill,” meaning prosecutors did not secure the nine votes needed to indict.
Co-owner Doug Polk confirmed the outcome publicly. With no criminal indictment, The Lodge is positioned to have its assets returned and resume operations after addressing logistical and staffing needs.
The Lodge looks to reopen in 2-3 weeks
The ruling restores a clearer path for tournaments, cash games, and a return of a major local venue that had been offline for nearly two months.
Patrons who had planned events or relied on the room for regular play can expect service to resume soon.
The case highlights enforcement risk from state regulators and the operational damage that can follow a raid, including large cash seizures and mass layoffs (The Lodge laid off nearly 200 employees).
Returning seized funds will be essential to restart cash-heavy operations; the club will have to absorb rehiring and restart costs.
The decision may also prompt other venues to review compliance and cash-handling procedures to reduce regulatory exposure.
The Lodge says it aims to reopen within 2–3 weeks. However, Polk cautioned logistical challenges such as rehiring staff and resuming operations could extend timelines.
Based on reporting by Jon Sofen for PokerNews.
