‘This Is a Witch Hunt’: Poker World Rallies Behind The Lodge After $2M Seizure

Why are Texas authorities concentrating on The Lodge Card Membership over unlawful playing allegations?

Doug Polk, co-owner of the Austin-area card room, initially referred to the March 10 raid as a “witch hunt.” Many poker followers are actually beginning to come round to the notion after the state did not cost the poker site’s house owners with against the law, however are nonetheless refusing to provide the enterprise the greater than $2 million the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Fee (TABC) seized within the raid.

“Lawmakers who create/ignore legal guidelines that permit authorized theft ought to be uncovered and campaigned towards,” @LeeRBagby commented.

The “authorized theft” is in reference to the civil asset forfeiture filed in a Texas district courtroom that allows the state to carry onto the cash collected within the raid on account of possible reason behind The Lodge participating in unlawful playing.

It isn’t required in a civil forfeiture case for authorities to show past an affordable doubt {that a} crime has been dedicated to maintain seized cash. All they need to do is present possible trigger to a decide, mainly extra than simply mere suspicion of against the law however not essentially sufficient proof to get a conviction.

Authorized Poker Room Theft?

Final week’s information appeared to carry the poker group collectively in assist of a poker site that many argued has been unjustly focused by the TABC. Even some poker gamers who aren’t notably keen on Polk are standing up towards this “authorized theft.”

“It was a witch hunt, the state of Texas are absolute f*****g morons. Who works for the state of Texas that obtained their a** kicked on the Lodge?” @CallingYousOut requested.

“What a f*****g joke,” Nick Palma, who has been on a heater currently, quote tweeted.

“Nothing like destroying a enterprise and placing individuals out of labor for no motive. It’s a shakedown. They need a settlement and they’ll wish to declare victory. It’s additionally a message to the opposite golf equipment,” @opmsu argues.

The Lodge Card Membership, two weeks after the raid, made the choice to put off almost 200 workers because of the firm’s unsure future. Though the poker membership nonetheless cannot retrieve its belongings, a everlasting closure nonetheless would not appear seemingly. But it surely’s additionally unclear how lengthy the authorized course of will final.

Many poker followers supporting The Lodge referred to civil forfeiture legal guidelines as “anti-American” and a “cash seize,” together with the legalized theft takes.

“Forfeiture and Seizure energy should be obliterated, until a prison cost & conviction are obtained,” @Kirk31614869 opines.

“This witch hunt is simply one other micro instance of how poker is considered in lots of international locations,” Los Angeles poker grinder Derek Kwan wrote, pushing for poker by lawmakers “like chess and or aggressive video video games.”

Why is The Lodge Card Membership Being Focused?

An Austin poker participant (@data_atx) trashed Williamson County District Legal professional Shawn Dick for “selectively imposing guidelines towards poker,” concentrating on The Lodge whereas allowing a World Collection of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) sequence to run later this month at TCH Social in the identical county.

“This could usually be known as armed theft however as a result of it is the federal government, it is high quality,” @SATX_Poker sarcastically wrote.

“No fees filed however Texas retains the $2M. That is the most costly rake in poker historical past,” @PlusevT5133 joked.

“Authorities overreach at its peak. Maintain the cash regardless if they are going to cost the operation criminally or not. Why is each type of playing authorized besides poker?” @GregJC17 asks.

The TABC initially went after The Lodge on suspicion of cash laundering, organized crime, and unlawful playing. A civil forfeiture asset submitting in a Williamson County district courtroom indicated the DA is now solely pursuing civil measures associated to the unlawful playing allegations.

Many inside the poker group are standing up in assist of The Lodge Card Membership and its house owners, which incorporates Polk, Brad Owen, Andrew Neeme, and Jake Abdalla. And a few are questioning why the handfuls of different Texas poker rooms aren’t going through the identical authorized scrutiny.

Editor’s Observe: The views shared by these featured on this story belong to them alone and aren’t endorsed by PokerNews

On this Collection