Doug Polk's Plan for the Largest Texas Cardroom Is Threatened by Complications
Farmers Branch, a Dallas suburb, chose not to become home to Texas' largest poker room. On Tuesday, the city council voted against an ordinance that would have legalized cardrooms, blocking Doug Polk's plan to establish a 47,000-square-foot facility with a bar, restaurant, and 100 poker tables.
Polk, a three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, expressed his disappointment, stating that the facility would have provided employment for around 300 people and attracted 300,000 visitors annually. The venue was within a 20-minute drive from the Dallas International Airport. The poker player mentioned that despite the vote, he was not giving up on his dream and was looking for an alternative location.
The region, according to Polk, offers a lucrative market.
Despite Polk's success in the world of poker, venturing into the Texas live poker industry appears to be a high-risk venture for him. The legal status of poker clubs is unclear in the state, and their future is uncertain. Some cardrooms, such as the Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, where Polk and his partners already own the largest card room in Texas, claim to operate via a legal loophole because they are private clubs, citing the law allowing gambling in private places for personal winnings with no one receiving economic benefits other than personal stakes.
However, opponents argue this is just an interpretation of the law and these clubs operate commercially.
Meanwhile, the City of Dallas legalized cardrooms in 2019, granting a license to the Texas Card House. However, in January this year, the city revoked the club's permit, with Dallas City Attorney Chris Caso claiming the club was "keeping a gambling place." The situation is currently in legal limbo, with the club allowed to remain operational until the legal matters are settled. It's believed the issue is headed for a final decision by the Texas Supreme Court.
This local case is just the latest in a series of battles surrounding the legality of poker rooms in the state.
Polk's business partners own the largest card room in the state, and he hopes to replicate the success of the Lodge Card Club in Round Rock in Farmers Branch.
The situation is complex due to disputes over the legality of poker clubs in Texas, and the fact that Polk's proposed location is big even for Texas standards does not make it any less risky for him.
The city council's decision might have been influenced by the uncertainty surrounding the legal status of poker clubs. The cardrooms circumvent the law by charging customers for access to the venue rather than taking a rake. However, not all agree with this interpretation, viewing it as an attempt to exploit a loophole in the law.
A few years ago, the City of Dallas legalized poker by allowing the Texas Card House to operate as the state's first cardroom. However, in January of this year, the city revoked the club's permit and warned the owners they were in violation of the law. The case is being fought out in the courts.
Farmers Branch's decision comes at a time when the legality of poker rooms in Texas is being contested. The issue is likely to end up before the state's highest court.
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Source: www.casino.org
