Grand Jury Ruling Paves Way for Raided Texas Poker Room to Reopen Soon

A consultant for The Lodge Card Membership introduced arguments towards prosecution to a grand jury on Tuesday in Williamson County, Texas, and the end result could not have gone higher for the Austin-area poker site.

The Lodge, co-owned by Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme, and Brad Owen, was raided on March 10 by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Fee (TABC) for allegations of cash laundering, unlawful playing, and arranged crime. Property, together with over $1.3 million in money, have been seized, forcing the poker membership to shut.

Cash laundering costs have been later dropped, however the enterprise remained closed and the TABC, led by agent Douglas Bell, held onto the cash, citing possible reason for a criminal offense. Tuesday was an enormous day for The Lodge Card Membership and its workers and gamers.

Way forward for Texas Poker Room

A grand jury doesn’t allow media or protection attorneys to be current. The Lodge, nevertheless, employed a consultant to make a presentation on behalf of the enterprise in entrance of the grand jury.

There have been a number of potential outcomes in play, together with Polk and his predominant co-owners, Jake Abdalla and Jason Levin, being indicted on felony or misdemeanor costs of organized crime and unlawful playing. Indictment in a Texas grand jury requires no less than 9 of 12 jurors to vote in favor of indictment, a course of generally known as a “true invoice.”

The opposite doable consequence was that there could be no indictment, or a “no invoice,” and that is exactly what occurred as there weren’t sufficient jurors who felt prosecutors confirmed possible reason for a criminal offense being dedicated. Polk issued a press release on X.

The Lodge Card Membership ought to now have its property returned, paving method for reopening. Polk mentioned the purpose is to reopen inside 2-3 weeks, though he acknowledged that could possibly be a logistical problem.

All workers have been laid off in March and the poker site has been closed for almost two months. The Lodge could have a tall process on its fingers re-hiring almost 200 workers and planning out different operational duties, which might take a month or so to finish.

The grand jury resolution ends a virtually two-month authorized battle that has stored one of many greatest poker manufacturers in Texas out of enterprise, an consequence that ought to profit the Texas poker business as an entire.

On this Sequence