Round Rock Poker Room The Lodge to Reopen After No Indictments

The Lodge, a Round Rock poker room that was raided last month by state officials, is planning to reopen after a Williamson County Grand Jury declined to indict the owners who faced allegations of violating state gambling and money laundering laws.

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission investigators conducted a two-year financial probe involving undercover operations and a raid that forced the club to close temporarily and lay off 144 employees.

“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,” the club’s owners wrote in a Tuesday statement posted on X. “We are thankful the grand jury carefully weighed the facts and law and decided in our favor.”

The company was accused of violating state laws regarding gambling and money laundering, according to an affidavit signed by a TABC agent.

The allegations by the state included engaging in organized criminal activity, money laundering, promotion of gambling, keeping a gambling place and possession of gambling devices, equipment or paraphernalia.

The TABC declined to comment on the grand jury’s decision. The American-Statesman reached out to Williamson County’s District Attorney’s Office.

TABC’s allegations

A search warrant affidavit highlighted investigators' main allegation that multiple people and businesses worked to operate and profit from illegal gambling, funnel money through accounts and run the venue and equipment used to carry out the poker games.

According to the affidavit, investigators alleged that the club owners crossed the line by using the establishment’s members-only model to host legal social gambling, making money from games through seat fees and tournaments, and, they argued, allowing broad public access despite the “private club” designation.

The affidavit named Jake Abdalla, Doug Polk and Jason Levin as the club’s primary owners and managers. The three hold a combined 63.3 percent stake in Tempus Holdings Inc., which operated the establishment.

The case began in June 2024, according to the affidavit, after TABC investigator Doug Bell reviewed a confidential report claiming “questionable financial activity” tied to the club.

The affidavit outlined bank records showing money spent on poker tables, livestream setups, and advertising, as well as large transfers between related companies and payments to professional poker players.

A public complaint was also filed in April 2024, citing a 2005 opinion issued by then-Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott stating that businesses with on-premises alcohol permits cannot host real-money poker tournaments. The business held a state mixed beverage permit, per the TABC.

During undercover operations conducted during the investigation, investigators reported buying memberships, exchanging cash for chips, paying seat fees, playing for money, ordering drinks and cashing out winnings.

TABC agents worked with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service to execute a search warrant at the club on March 10, in conjunction with the ongoing investigation.

At the time of the search warrant, Polk said on X that he did not “participate in” or have any “knowledge of any money laundering” in the operation of the club.

“I understand that some people assume that because there was a search warrant, a crime must have been committed, but that’s not really how the process works.” Polk wrote on X a few days after the raid.

On Tuesday, Polk confirmed that any indictment against him, his partners or the club had been officially rejected. He wrote in an X post that the seized money and equipment would be returned as soon as possible.

Plans to reopen

Brad Owen, one of the club’s co-owners, told the Statesman that he was “glad” the jury recognized that the Lodge had done its best to comply with the laws and regulations.

Owen referred to the investigation as a “major disruption” to the business.

“We’re going to have an uphill battle rehiring staff and getting customers back,” Owen told the Statesman. “Still, I’m looking forward to the reopening, hopefully in a few weeks.”

Owners plan to welcome laid-off employees back. Returning employees will be eligible for what the club owners referred to in Tuesday’s X post announcing the news as a “new rewards program” to address the disruption caused by layoffs.

Before it closed, the club had been a premier poker room with 60 tables that drew players from across the region for its round-the-clock play and national tournaments worth hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars.