Are Private Poker Rooms Legal In Texas

Texas card rooms will be allowed to continue for the time being after state attorney general ken paxton declined to put forth an official position on the legal status of the poker clubs.

Are private poker rooms legal in texas.

Understanding texas poker room gambling laws it is important for one to understand how gambling laws work if they plan on operating a poker club. Owners of these clubs claim they are operating in accordance with texas gambling laws by only charging membership fees and dues rather than taking a percentage of the pot. It s a bit of a gray area according to guerra thompson. Critics claim they are merely exploiting a loophole in the law.

Harris county law enforcement officials insist this business model is the same as taking. Both newcomers and industry veterans need help in the interpretation of the law as legal aspects of a business can be both confusing and frustrating. The card rooms that are popping up in texas are private clubs that provide rake free poker games as well as bridge backgammon chess and beyond instead of a rake which would make the game illegal per the texas penal code cited above the clubs charge membership fees and in some cases seat rentals. Private poker clubs have been popping up recently all over texas and their legality is currently under debate.

In 2012 2013 senator rodney ellis introduced casino bills that included the legalization of poker but ellis received no support from his fellow lamwakers. Poker players have fought for legalized poker for years whether in texas online poker rooms or in brick and mortar establishments. Poker clubs aren t illegal in texas. Anyone can gamble for money in a private place as long as the house doesn t profit from the game.