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Details regarding last week's raid on an Austin, Texas area card room, the biggest in the state. have now emerged.
PokerNews obtained the search and seizure warrant leading to the raid of The Lodge Poker Club in Texas, which is co-owned by poker pro and podcaster Doug Polk.
Among the revelations:
The affidavit has revealed the following five accounts that are alleged to be in violation of the laws of the State of Texas:
- Texas Penal Code 71.02(a) - ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
- Texas Penal Code 34.02 - MONEY LAUNDERING
- Texas Penal Code 47.03 - PROMOTION OF GAMBLING
- Texas Penal Code 47.04 - KEEPING A GAMBLING PLACE
- Texas Penal Code 47.06 - POSSESSION OF GAMBLING DEVICE, EQUIPMENT OR PARAPHERNALIA
The 22-page affidavit outlines the process the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) took to investigate the largest poker room in the Lone Star State, beginning in June 2024.
In an emergency episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad, Ben and Mike discuss the latest updates from the situation at The Lodge!
From Poker News:
Agent Douglas Bell with the TABC, upon receiving a "confidential report of some questionable financial activity" associated with The Lodge Card Club, which is co-owned by high-profile poker players Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme, and Brad Owen, among many other investors, began to investigate. That investigation process started with Bell discovering the TABC had granted the business a liquor license.
On June 13, Agent Bell started observing the Round Rock, Texas poker club from the exterior. He then, apparently based on that confidential info, began requesting bank records of The Lodge Card Club and its affiliated businesses. Bank records were received by the end of August 2024, and the TABC then analyzed the various transactions, many of which were presented in the affidavit.
Investigators noted that, during the first two months of 2025, approximately $1.35 million was deposited from The Lodge through the Loomis cash vault, located inside the club, into a bank account held by Tempus Holdings, Inc., a business associated with The Lodge Card Club.
"The above listed transactions are believed to be in support of, and constitute evidence of the illegal activity taking place at the Lodge Card Club," the search warrant reads.
Polk has denied any wrongoing.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
