Lodge Card Club Raided in Money Laundering, Illegal Gambling Probe

^{The Lodge Card Club in Austin is temporarily closed following a March 10 raid tied to an investigation into suspected illegal gambling and money laundering. (Photo: Lodge Card Club / LinkedIn)}

The Lodge Card Club is under investigation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) for suspected money laundering and illegal gambling after a raid on March 10.

No arrests have been made at this time, and no charges have been filed following the raid. Approximately 20 TABC agents participated in the operation.

Lodge Remains Closed While Investigation Continues

According to investigators, the raid was the culmination of a two-year probe into the Lodge Poker Club's finances. The club is majority-owned by high-profile poker players Doug Polk, Jake Abdalla, and Jason Levin.

The club operates under the same gray area of Texas law as other poker clubs in the state. The concept is that only members can play at what is ostensibly a private club, where players typically pay seat fees to participate rather than a traditional rake. Proponents argue that this structure at the venue isn’t breaking any Texas gambling laws.

However, TABC investigators say that the Lodge Poker Club was effectively open to the public despite billing itself as a private club. The commission also alleges that, because the club holds a liquor license, real-money poker tournaments are not permitted under state guidance.

While the Lodge Poker Club remains closed, the company's management has released a statement on social media to say that its assets and bank accounts have been frozen.

The club apologizes to those with pending payouts that cannot be redeemed at this time. The investigation has left over 200 players unable to access their chip balances or receive tournament payouts until it concludes, according to the statement.

Polk Releases Statement on Lodge Raid, Denies Wrongdoing

Co-owner Doug Polk, who recently announced the birth of his daughter, Georgia Ann Polk, also released a statement on X. He states that he has no knowledge of any illegal activity tied to the club.

“I did not participate in, and still have no knowledge of, any money laundering in the operation of the Lodge,” Polk wrote.

Polk also cautioned people from assuming that there is wrongdoing solely based on the raid and investigation. He also confirmed that the affidavit for the search warrant has not been given to the Lodge or made public, and that both employees and players have been affected by the investigation.

“My heart goes out to the hundreds of Lodge employees whose jobs are in jeopardy,” Polk said. “These are good, hardworking people, and it is painful to see them struggle through this uncertainty.”

The Lodge is cooperating with investigators and expects to provide additional updates on when players will be repaid and how the investigation will proceed.

While casino-style gambling is illegal in Texas, there have been efforts to change that in recent years. Las Vegas Sands has led an effort to bring resort-style casinos to the Lone Star State, though those efforts haven't borne fruit in the state legislature. Sands-backed candidates have failed to win seats in Texas.