Doug Polk Has Plans to Open a New Poker Room in Texas; Will He Get Approval?
Doug Polk already owns the largest poker room in Texas — The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock — but he's looking to branch out to other cities within the Lone Star State.
The Upswing Poker founder, who provided some details of his plans to PokerNews, has done some research on where he could legally open a profitable card room beyond the Austin metro area. He considered venturing outside Texas, but for now he's determined the best option is to remain in his current state.
Where Will Polk Open a Poker Room?
With Texas being Polk and his business partner's focus for a second poker room, the team is looking into the biggest cities in the state — Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. Later this week, he just might have a better idea of where the next Lodge will end up.
On May 7 at 6 p.m. CT, the city council in Farmers Branch, a town northwest of Dallas, will vote on whether or not to allow card rooms in the city. Should the vote go his way, he would then need to receive approval from the city for a business license to operate at a location he's already picked out (see pic below).
Farmers Branch is an industrial area with a population of around 35,000. The location Polk has chosen as a potential poker room spot sits near the Dallas North Tollway, about 15 minutes from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
Challenges of Opening a Poker Room in Texas
While there are dozens of poker rooms in Texas — some large and others small — the state has strict anti-gambling laws. Plain and simple — gambling is illegal unless it meets certain criteria. But there is a carveout in Texas Penal Code 47.01 that leaves open for the possibility of legally operating a poker room so long as rake isn't collected. Instead, the card rooms such as The Lodge Card Club charge membership and seat fees as opposed to taking rake out of the pots.
But there's still plenty of pushback for poker in Texas at state and city levels, especially in Dallas where some city council members have fought tirelessly to shut down poker clubs such as Texas Card House. The objection to poker stems from residents complaining to the city about gambling in the area, anti-gambling religious beliefs, and lobbying efforts from traditional casinos in surrounding states.
Polk will face the same sort of opposition at the upcoming city council meeting. But he already explained to the city council members at an April 8 hearing the benefits of opening a poker room in Farmers Branch, most notably the numerous jobs and tax revenue his business will create. On top of that, he believes the card club will help revitalize the area, which consists mostly of warehouses.
If approved, Polk anticipates keeping The Lodge brand as the name of his new poker room, but hasn't ruled out the possibility of opening under a different name. There is a nearby strip club called The Lodge, which could cause some confusion. He's asking local poker players to show up on Tuesday to the city council meeting to show support for poker.
If the vote doesn't go his way, Polk isn't about to pack up and quit. He'll continue looking into other possibilities. The three-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner will be taking a break from the business planning later this month when he competes, for the second straight year, on the Hustler Casino Live Million Dollar Game.
Polk, Neeme, Owen Team Up to Purchase Texas Poker Room
