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Doug Poker, poker pro and co-owner of the Austin, Texas-area poker room, The Lodge Card Club, insists he was not involved in any wrongdoing following a raid on that establishment last Tuesday.
Customers and staff were shooed out with their chips in hand. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has since confirmed the investigation involves allegations of money laundering.
Polk initially referred to the TABC as conducting a "witch hunt".
Late Monday, the outspoken pro issued another statement.
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.
That affidavit has not been given to the Lodge or made public.
My heart goes out to the hundreds of Lodge employees whose jobs are in jeopardy. These are good, kind, hardworking people, and it is painful to see them struggle through this uncertainty.
I also care deeply about the situation for our members. There are numerous people with both chip balances and tournament payouts that cannot currently be processed. I want to reiterate that these members will be made whole, and I will personally make sure that happens, in coordination with my attorneys, so that it is done properly.
With the advice of my lawyers, I am committed to cooperating with law enforcement officials, answering any questions they have, and doing everything I can to clear up the confusion of what has and has not been happening at The Lodge.
I expect to provide another update soon, once more information is available and my attorneys have had an opportunity to fully assess the situation.
In the meantime, I appreciate your patience and support.
Those in the poker community were quick to question why Polk could not make staff and members whole in the meantime.
Honor writes on X:
"Doug why don’t you personally cash in the peoples chips???"
Man of the Library asked on X:
"Why don’t you make the unpaid players whole with your own funds and take on the liability if you did nothing wrong?"
MGC writes:
"Here’s an idea Doug…you’re a multi millionaire…how about you tap into your petty cash fund, and send each and every one of your employees a couple grand until this shit gets sorted out…thats about 400K…basically what you sit down with at 100/200…chalk it up to variance."
Others, like fellow poker pro Tom Dwan have lashed out at Polk for casting judgement on others for alleged misconduct via his popular podcasts and on his social media feeds. He's far from alone.
Brian Kuhn brought up one such incident.
"I would fully believe you, but for the fact that you came off like a total psycho in your Spaces conversation with Charlie Carrell a few years ago, and thus I know it's in your wheelhouse to be full of shit when you want to be."
John Villada wrote:
"I don’t feel bad for you doug, you’re a cuntt and a hater! This is what you get for trolling ppl, trying to bring down hcl, and inserting yourself into other people’s poler dealings you weirdo!"
Walter Jenkins Jr. expressed what many would see as the obvious.
"You own the business, whatever happens even without your knowledge is your responsibility. Plain and simple. You posting this online shows you have no idea what litigation is and how to protect yourself. Proving to twitter you’re innocent while a shitstorm is brewing is amateur."
Last week, Austin area resident and poker pro Wade Townsend claimed Polk ruined a good thing when he came along in 2020 and purchased The Lodge Card Room.
Townsend did not mince words when he referred to Polk as a "dips***".
"Here comes Doug Polk," Townsend said, mockingly. "Every other f***ing r***** who moved to Austin during Covid, 'Hey Guys, Austin's awesome, let's get some barbeque. Yeah, so cool, Bro. The coolest'."
Townsend went on to explain how Polk discovered there is a card room in Austin, that being The Lodge.
"'I'm gonna buy this because I am the coolest'," Townsend mimicked what he believed Polk was thinking at the time. "'Everybody knows I am the coolest. I'm so cool, the coolest thing ever'. And so he buys The Lodge and proceeds to destroy it."
Townsend relayed how he would go to The Lodge "before this f***er ever found out about it".
"It was a great neighborhood card room. There were always eight to ten tables. People having fun. Nobody is loosing ridiculous amounts of money."
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
