The Lodge Reopening May 26: Charges Dropped, Doug Polk Claims Victory
GipsyTeam
Today, 15:07
The Lodge is opening back up, after months of turmoil and uncertainty. The TABC has failed, and our favorite card room in Texas is set to reopen on May 26.
After The Lodge closed on March 10, 2026, there was little hope of it reopening.
Many in the poker community accepted that Doug Polk's card room and Texas-themed streamed game were gone for good.
But it was not to be.
The Lodge will reopen on May 26th!
9 AM might be a little early for most poker players, but there's going to be plenty of action coming up. Obviously, a celebration is due.
Put yourself in the shoes of the staff, who've been waiting for months, held in financial limbo. Players had their own limbo to deal with, holding chips that might be worth face value, or just a couple of bucks on eBay for collectors.
We covered everything about the initial raid, but now, we're in a new chapter.
In the end, it wasn't some kind of new evidence or findings that got The Lodge off the hook. A Williamson County Grand Jury declined to indict after it heard the case. Basically, this decision shows that the grand jury did not see proven criminal actions, or the evidence itself was too weak.
This doesn't happen often at all. In fact, the Texas state grand jury has indictment rates often above 99%.
It's been a long and tumultuous road, but we are happy to share a positive outcome for The Lodge and our devoted community of members and followers worldwide.
Earlier today, a Williamson County Grand Jury heard our case and declined to indict. The decision reflects that the investigation conducted by TABC, including the March 10, 2026, enforcement action, did not support charges of criminal conduct, consistent with our position throughout. We are thankful the grand jury carefully weighed the facts and law and decided in our favor.
Our commitment to operating ethically and in full compliance with Texas law was tested, but it’s a commitment we’ve never wavered from. As a premier Texas cardroom, we’ve always held ourselves to a higher standard, grounded in transparency, accountability, and respect for the law. That’s why our members can feel confident they’re part of a club that sets the standard for professionalism, trust, and experience in Texas.
In true Lodge fashion, we knew we were holding a strong hand, one built on integrity, discipline, and doing things the right way. With the support of our members, our team, and trusted legal counsel, we did not fold.
One of the strongest cards we held was the tremendous outpouring of support we received from our members and staff. Your vocal support showed your continued belief in The Lodge and the idea of community. Bringing people together, creating a great social experience, and building real connections is at the core of what we do. Your support throughout this ordeal has meant everything to us and reinforced just how strong this community is. Our most heart-filled appreciation to each of you who stood by us as we navigated the uncertainty of the past several weeks.
As we put this situation behind us, we are working diligently to get The Lodge Round Rock operational again as quickly as possible and will continue to update the community as a reopening date is set. To express our sincerest gratitude for your unwavering support, we are planning several special events to welcome back our members and open the door to new players as well.
To our loyal staff, we look forward to having you walk through our doors once again. We know how disruptive this was to you and your families. Know that throughout this entire process, you have been at the forefront of our minds. We recognize that the success of the club is heavily reliant on you and the experience you create for our members. Returning employees can expect to learn more about a new rewards program designed just for you.
More announcements including a grand reopening date, tournament and chip payouts, updated processes and procedures, etc. are to come. We look forward to welcoming you all back to The Lodge and to the community we all make together.
Doug Polk also chimed in on his own Twitter page, mentioning that all money and equipment will be returned, but pointing out that "tremendous" damage has still been done.
BREAKING: All charges against myself, my partners, and the Lodge have been officially rejected.
The seized money and equipment will be returned and we will reopen as quickly as possible, hopefully within a few weeks.
The Grand Jury in Williamson County heard the allegations against us, and refused to authorize proposed charges.
Justice has prevailed.
The damage to our staff and members has been tremendous, and it is now time to rebuild.
We will be putting together a kickoff event in the near future.
In the words of a great man: “you gotta know when to hold'em”
This latest blunder is a serious blow to the TABC's reputation, and the organization will definitely be under scrutiny on a state level (if not a national one).
The Community Reacts & Rejoices
This was seen as the classic battle of good versus evil. On one side was The Lodge, host of a beloved poker stream, run by a few of poker's most celebrated players. On the other side, a government agency with a very tattered past.
Naturally, the reopening announcement was celebrated across the poker world.
Doug's tweet has already received over 6,000 likes and more than 680 comments.
Garrett Adelstein: When you come at the king, you best not miss. Good things tend to happen to hard workers who do things the right way. Now go get those Lodge employees their paper.
Jeff Boski: ☑️ Justice
Kevin Martin: Hell yeah, shuffle up and deal!
Ben Lamb: Congrats is a weird word to say here, but congratulations. Very happy for you and the staff and look forward to coming down again sometime this year to lose some more money!
Gary Blackwood: This whole thing was a fuckin disgrace. Long live the Lodge!!!!!
Nicky P: Where’s all the stupid comments now? Congrats
Ron: I’ll patiently wait for the people who criticized and supported the raid to come forward and say, “Sorry, I was wrong!”
You could scroll for an hour and not see all of the replies from Lodge supporters. Countless GIFs o Dwight cheering were seen, and we only scraped the surface.
This truly is a huge moment for live poker.
Congratulations to everyone who plays and works at The Lodge.
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