World Poker Tour Postpones Lodge Card Club Event After Texas Authorities Raid Venue
The World Poker Tour has postponed its Wildcard event at The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, Texas
The World Poker Tour has pulled a scheduled festival from its calendar after state authorities raided The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, Texas.
The WPT Wildcard: Wacky Weekend of Poker, set for March 13 to 15 at the poker room near Austin, was postponed following the enforcement action. The tour cited circumstances outside its control and said updated dates would be announced once the situation is resolved.
This news comes as Texas made headlines in February for a massive illegal gambling ring bust, which involved many local officials, including a Texas Mayor.
The Raid and Its Immediate Aftermath
Officials from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and state police conducted the raid earlier this week. The timing was notable. The enforcement action occurred approximately 16 hours after the conclusion of the Lodge Championship Series main event, which had just wrapped at the venue.
Players present during the raid were instructed to leave the premises and take their chips with them. The Lodge informed them they could return to cash out once the club reopened. Neither the TABC nor state police have publicly explained the reason for the operation.
Speculation on poker forums and Reddit has pointed to possible issues involving the venue’s liquor license or age verification procedures, while some users have suggested the investigation may extend beyond alcohol regulation. No charges or violations have been publicly announced.
The Lodge Card Club is co-owned by poker professionals and streamers Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme, and Brad Owen. All three are among the most recognizable figures in online poker content.
Polk confirmed he was not present during the raid and said he was still gathering information. In subsequent communications, he assured players that their funds remain secure while the investigation is ongoing.
The Lodge Responds
In an email to members, The Lodge Card Club acknowledged the raid and said it does not know the reason authorities conducted the search.
The venue stated its attorneys are working to understand the basis for the action and that the situation has not been explained to the club directly.
The Lodge maintained that it has operated with integrity and in full accordance with Texas law throughout its history. It confirmed the venue will remain closed in the interim but assured members that all assets are being safeguarded.
The WPT’s Statement
The World Poker Tour addressed the postponement on the event page. The tour acknowledged that many players had already made plans to attend and said it appreciates their understanding.
It did not provide a specific timeline for rescheduling and indicated that updated dates and additional details would follow once the situation is resolved.
The disruption is the second consecutive schedule change for the WPT in a short period. Earlier this month, the tour also postponed the WPT Prime Championship Cyprus, that time due to regional travel disruptions following military strikes involving Iran.
Texas Poker Rooms and Their Legal Standing
The raid puts a spotlight on the uncertain legal status of poker rooms across Texas. The state prohibits most forms of gambling, and any meaningful expansion of gaming appears politically unlikely in the near term given the failure of recent legislative efforts.
Poker rooms in Texas have operated for years under a private-club model that charges membership fees or hourly seat rentals rather than taking a percentage of pots. Operators argue this structure qualifies under the state’s social gambling exception, since the house does not directly profit from the outcome of individual hands. Critics counter that the clubs still derive meaningful economic benefit from the games.
The legality of the model has never been definitively settled. Because Texas lacks a dedicated gaming regulator, enforcement actions fall to agencies like the TABC and local law enforcement, which can create inconsistent and unpredictable outcomes for operators.
The Lodge Card Club is one of the largest and most prominent poker rooms in the state. Its closure, even temporarily, affects a significant portion of the Texas poker ecosystem. The outcome of the investigation will be watched closely by operators and players across the state.
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