How Houston Poker Clubs Thrive in a Legal ‘Gray Area’
Texas has had a long history with the game of poker, from old west saloon gambling rooms to high-stakes poker tournaments featuring Texas-bred champion players. Many may not know that there is a thriving scene involving card playing for cash here in Houston, but they are local businesses with their own set of rules.
For the last 5 years, poker clubs have been popping up all across the Lone Star State, and now there are more than 50 poker clubs. In the Houston area alone there are 19 poker clubs where people can win cash.
“They play for real money. It is real hard cash, you can win cash prizes,” said Mark Lodygowski, 35. “You pay an access fee to access the room for the day, and you can play some free games. People play amongst themselves, they don’t have to play for money, but if they play poker, generally it is gonna’ be for some money.” Lodygowski is the co-owner of Paramount Social Club which opened up on January of 2018.
At Paramount anyone can play various games such as billiards, chess, pinball, board games, and poker. Poker is the main attraction, however, because at Paramount people can play for real money just as they would in a casino. They offer cash games for Texas Hold Em’ and Pot-Limit Omaha poker, as well as different types of poker tournaments that have cash prizes up to $5,000.
With the popularity among places like Paramount growing, the legalities around them have been put into question with some high profile actions being taken against some clubs.
On May 1, 2019, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan arrested the owners of Prime Social Club and Post Oak Poker Club after a two-year investigation; putting the legality of poker clubs in the spotlight. The clubs were accused of encouraging illegal gambling, money laundering, and criminal activities. After the raids, District Attorney Kim Ogg called poker rooms illegal in Texas and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said, “We can’t allow illegal gambling to go on. It drives organized crime and fuels other criminal activity.”
The Harris County D.A.’s office has since dropped the charges, and in turn they have been counter-sued by the poker clubs. Ogg had to drop all charges against the clubs after the consultant of the DA’s office, Amir Mireskandari, had been accused of scamming the clubs by telling them that they would be licensed in Houston if they paid a fee. Mireskandari allegedly received $250,000 from Prime Social Club and Post Oak Poker Club.
Texas law doesn’t make it illegal to play poker, rather it makes it illegal to profit from the game by either taking a rake or fee from the money that’s in play. The poker rooms have gone around the law by charging an access fee to play inside the places, but do not profit from the games themselves.
“We’re basically, essentially a country club,” said Lodygowski. “You have to pay to be a member here at Paramount. As long as they’re a member of Paramount, my members can do what they want to do.”
Poker rooms have continued to operate freely since the charges in the poker room cases, but there is still concern by some poker club owners that the interpretation of the law may change.
“The issue is the way the Texas penal code is written,” said Lodygowski. “It’s in a gray area, so it’s basically up to the counties to determine what’s legal.”
Even though there has been conflict between the poker clubs and the authorities, people continue to frequent these establishments. A couple of reasons why is because the clubs offer a variety of poker games and tournaments that are not typically available in a home game. They are also safe places to play poker for cash.
“An actual police officer is here. I feel more safe,” says Chris G., 41, a frequent player of the club.
The clubs have also gained the attention of popular poker players, such as YouTube vlogger Jamal Burton. He attended a poker session earlier this year at Paramount. Professional poker player, Jonathan Little, has been known to play at Texas Cardhouse in Austin. Matt Berkey and Christian Soto, who also have a YouTube poker channel, visit the club in the capital as well.
Texas ties to the modern world of poker run deep. One of the people responsible for popularizing the game, Doyle Brunson, is from Longworth. He is a retired two-time World Series of Poker Main Event Champion. Johnny Chan, another poker legend who grew up in Houston, also became a two-time World Champion. Texans have had a long tradition of playing cards, and the mainstream attention is long overdue.
Despite the legal issues that surround the game, poker players around the state have spoken for the courts. Their enthusiasm and support for the game have shown that the game as it’s played in local clubs won’t disappear anytime soon.
