The Lodge Card Club to Resume Poker Operations

By Mrinal Gujare

14 May 2026

Mrinal Gujare 14 May 2026

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Lodge Card Club reopens May 26 after Grand Jury declines indictment.
Tournaments & "Poker at the Lodge" livestream resume.
Frank & Margie’s Italian American restaurant debuts for players & guests.

Image Credit: The Lodge Card Club Twitter

The Lodge Card Club in Texas will reopen on May 26 following a March raid by the TABC. After a Grand Jury declined to indict shareholders, the club reclaimed its seized assets, scheduled tournaments, and announced a new restaurant.

The Lodge Card Club, the largest card room in Texas, is scheduled to reopen its doors on May 26 following a forced closure that began on March 10 due to legal issues.

The Austin area poker club will resume operations starting at 9 a.m. on that day, welcoming players back with a grand reopening schedule featuring both cash games and tournaments.

Legal Investigation and Asset Return

The poker room, which features nearly 70 card tables and an attached restaurant, was raided more than two months ago by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).

The raid was conducted on suspicion of illegal gambling, organized crime, and money laundering. During the operation, authorities seized assets including cash, which left the poker club unable to continue its daily operations.

The investigation centered on the three top shareholders of the venue: Doug Polk, Jake Abdalla, and Jason Levin.

The legal situation resolved on April 28 when a Grand Jury voted against indictment. This decision ensured that formal charges would not be filed and required the TABC to return the seized assets to the owners.

The Grand Jury decision paved the way for the venue to prepare for its return. The Lodge Card Club, which also operates a sister card room in San Antonio, had to complete several preparatory steps before setting a return date, including hiring back employees who were laid off after the initial raid.

Reopening Schedule and Tournament Line-up

The selected reopening date of May 26 coincides with the first day of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas.

The Lodge Card Club has structured its opening day tournament schedule to begin shortly after the doors open.

The first tournament will take place at 10:15 a.m., featuring a $50 no-limit hold'em turbo event. Two additional low-stakes tournaments are also scheduled for the first day of operations.

A full slate of upcoming tournaments has been listed on PokerAtlas for the days following the official return.

Restaurant Upgrades and Livestream Return

In addition to the poker room updates, management announced a change to its food and beverage operations. The attached Odds Bar & Bistro is being replaced by a new restaurant called Frank & Margie's.

The new establishment will feature a chef-driven Italian American menu designed to attract the broader Round Rock dining community. The restaurant will open on May 16 and will be directly accessible to players at the card club.

Management also informed PokerNews that the popular livestream, Poker at the Lodge, is expected to return on May 26, though that specific date remains unofficial. The livestream channel currently holds 239,000 YouTube subscribers.

Reflecting on the hiatus, Slick Rick, lead commentator and Head of Sales at The Lodge Card Club, noted the emotional impact the closure had on employees, members, and viewers.

He stated that after two and a half months, the club will reopen its doors and resume its livestream production as they look forward to continuing the eight-plus year history of the card room.