Doug Polk has promised to personally repay poker players with outstanding chips at The Lodge Card Club if the Texas poker room cannot do so itself, even if it means taking on seven figures in personal liability.
"If The Lodge does not make these people whole, I will," Polk said in his first YouTube video since the Austin-area card room was raided by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on March 10. "I'm taking on seven-figures in personal liability. Not because I have to, but because I want to and I don't want anyone that's involved with this to end up losing their money."
The 22-minute video was Polk's first extended public statement since the raid. His attorneys had largely kept him from speaking publicly in the weeks prior. A brief post on X two weeks ago saw the three-time WSOP bracelet winner deny any knowledge of or involvement in money laundering at The Lodge.
Polk Defends the Business Model
Polk used the video to walk through the legal framework The Lodge operates under. Texas law prohibits gambling but permits poker rooms to run without collecting rake, provided no party receives economic benefit from within a hand itself. The Lodge charges monthly membership and hourly seat fees instead.
"As for economic benefit, really what that has boiled down to is there cannot be an economic benefit within the hand itself," Polk said. "So, essentially, 100% of the gambling must go to the player."
Polk took issue with the fact that The Lodge, which he described as among the most compliance-focused rooms in the state, was targeted while clubs in Houston openly collect rake without prosecution.
"What's particularly weird about this is that, of all the clubs in the state, I would view us as a top-tier, maybe even the most stringent club in terms of following all necessary procedures in order to comply with federal, state, and local law," he said.
On the Money Laundering Accusations
The 22-page search and seizure affidavit cited wire transfers between players and The Lodge as potentially suspicious activity. Polk said the wire service is standard practice at high-stakes card rooms and exists for player safety, not as a sign of wrongdoing.
"In this situation, I believe that what they're saying is that, because we think this is illegal gambling, all of the transactions are, thus, money laundering," Polk said. "The Lodge has basically the highest stakes games in the state of Texas and does a lot to try and protect the players."
He added: "When I saw my name next to money laundering, I was shocked."
Polk said all financial transactions referenced in the affidavit "are activity of a lawful business." He also addressed questions about the liquor license cited in the warrant, noting The Lodge was granted a new license by the TABC in 2024, the same type held by competing rooms including Texas Card House.
What Happens Next
The TABC seized The Lodge's financial assets during the raid. If criminal charges are not filed by April 9, 30 days after the raid, the funds would likely be returned and the club could reopen. If charges are filed before that date, the money stays with the state.
Polk confirmed The Lodge is not permanently closed and said he hopes it reopens with its funds intact. He dismissed theories about federal government involvement and denied any role by Texas Card House, The Lodge's main Austin competitor, in the raid.
Hundreds of employees were laid off after the raid. Polk addressed that directly.
"When I saw that we had let go of the employees, I did feel a little bit upset for our people," Polk said. "These are good, hard-working people."
