Are Private Poker Rooms Legal In Texas

Poker players have fought for legalized poker for years whether in texas online poker rooms or in brick and mortar establishments.

Are private poker rooms legal in texas.

Poker clubs aren t illegal 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. It s a bit of a gray area according to guerra thompson. 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.

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. 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. Critics claim they are merely exploiting a loophole in the law. In 2012 2013 senator rodney ellis introduced casino bills that included the legalization of poker but ellis received no support from his fellow lamwakers.

Texas law is unclear on the question of whether poker rooms that charge seat and membership fees are legal. Texas law states poker is legal so long as it s played in a private place the house doesn t take a cut out of the games and all players stand the same chances at winning and losing. 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.