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HOUSTON, Texas (Gambling911.com) - Yet another poker club has been raided in Texas. This time it was the 101 Poker Club in Katy, just outside of Houston.
Four individuals were taken into custody. The poker club reopened less than 24 hours following the Thursday raid.
Texas police also seized $118,000.
The Houston Police Department announced on social media on Saturday that its Vice Division and the Harris County District Attorney's Office had seized funds and arrested four suspects "charged with engaging in organized criminal activity on Thursday (Oct. 22)."
Those arrested were Stephen Hohman, Brian Keegan, Laura Respondek and Randolph Reynolds. There are also charges pending against a fifth unnamed suspect.
Police did not provide any specifics about the alleged illegal activity, and charges weren't listed online by the Harris County Sheriff's Office as of Saturday afternoon.
This is not the first raid of a poker club in Texas over the last 12 months.
Lucky J Social Club in Houston was raided in May using drones but quickly reopened
Previously in March, authorities raided a Red Rock poker club co-owned by poker pro Doug Polk called The Lodge. The outspoken poker pro and podcaster referred to the incident carried out by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) as a "witch hunt" and promised to guarantee all player funds would be safe during the time the card room remains shuttered. His club re-opened in May after a grand jury declined to press charges.
Texas poker rooms operate in a legal gray area. Instead of operating like traditional casinos, many Texas poker rooms use a membership-based model.
These venues typically charge membership fees, hourly seat fees or access fees rather than taking a percentage of each pot, commonly called a rake. The club earns money from providing a venue and services, not directly from the gambling itself.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
