PokerOrg has received a statement from TABC Director of Communications Chris Porter following Tuesday’s raid on The Lodge Card Club.
The statement confirms an ongoing investigation into “suspected money laundering and illegal gambling.”
Porter said, "Agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s Financial Crimes Unit, along with members of the Special Investigations Unit and Operations Bureau, executed a search and seizure warrant at Lodge Card Club in Round Rock on March 10 in conjunction with an ongoing investigation into suspected money laundering and illegal gambling.
"The business holds a TABC mixed beverage permit. Approximately 20 TABC agents were involved with the operation along with officers from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and the IRS. No arrests were made as part of Tuesday’s operation, and the investigation remains ongoing. No charges have yet been filed against the business."
Porter said that because the investigation is ongoing, no further comment would be made.
Lodge Card Club issues statement
The statement follows a short message sent by the Lodge Card Club to members on Wednesday night.
The statement was sent by email and read:
“As you may be seeing from news reports, state police and the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) executed a search warrant at The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock this past Tuesday morning.
“Our attorneys are working to understand the reasons behind the search, but at this time, the situation has not been explained to us. Our legal counsel has contacted the relevant authorities and hopes to learn more, but, in our view, we are operating with integrity, using all best practices, and for many years have been doing business in absolute accordance with Texas law.
“This is obviously upsetting, and unfortunately, until this situation is fully understood, The Lodge Card Club is closed.”
Lodge co-owner Doug Polk had posted on X to say he would issue a wider statement on Wednesday but has yet to comment further.
He also personally guaranteed player funds in an angry response to Tom Dwan, where he labeled the raid a “witch hunt.”
