The Lodge, as the letter states, will continue to remain closed “for the foreseeable future,” but no timeline has been set for reopening or announcing a permanent closure. The company’s sister property in San Antonio remains open, however.
Levin indicated to his employees that the Williamson County District Attorney’s office does not believe The Lodge, a 68-table membership club with an attached bar and restaurant, operates within the letter of the law.
Gambling in Texas is illegal, but the often-debated Texas Penal Code 47.04 does leave open the possibility for poker games to operate so long as the host isn’t taking rake. In Texas, rooms such as The Lodge charge membership and seat fees in place of rake. But the TABC, in a 22-page search and seizure warrant affidavit released to PokerNews last week, revealed they are investigating the Texas poker club for allegations of money laundering and illegal gambling.
PokerNews will continue to monitor developments regarding The Lodge and report them if and when they happen. In the meantime, get caught up with what happened with the initial raid in this episode of the PokerNews Podcast