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1. Founded on a lifelong passion for poker, Champions Social draws on this passion to establish a community where poker players of all skill levels, through their mutual love of the game, can come together to become the best Houston poker community and call it “Home” Get $20 FREE Chair Time.
2. San Antonio's first legal card house and private club. A place to play in style, centrally located near the airport. 8721 Botts ln, San Antonio, Texas 78217.

These poker games happen every night in Houston in at least nine poker rooms. The Post Oak Poker Club is in the heart of the city where they welcome players out in the open, 12 hours a day, seven.

For decades, if you wanted to find a game of poker in Texas you’d have to locate an underground game or card room.

Thanks to a loophole in Texas law, and a group of enterprising businessmen that is beginning change.

A handful of “legal” poker rooms have begun to pop up in Texas. Whether they remain open is anyone’s guess.

The Texas gambling laws

Texas law seemingly forbids poker, and outside of charity games and unraked home games, no one has challenged Texas’s ban on for-profit poker games.

Section 47.02 of the Texas Penal Code states, it’s an offense if a person:

(3) plays and bets for money or other things of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.

But it also states:

(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that:

(1) the actor engaged in gambling in a private place;

(2) no person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings; and

(3) except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants.

A literal reading of the law would lead you to believe, poker is a-ok, so long as:

• you’re in a private building;
• no one is profiting from hosting the game; and
• the game is fair.

How the legal card rooms work

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. The latter seems to be pushing the legality envelope even further.

Michael Eakman’s club, Mint Poker in Southeast Houston is one such example.

“In our conversations with the city attorney here in our jurisdiction, we made everyone aware of what we were doing before we even signed the lease,” Eakman told the Houston Chronicle. “I certainly don’t want to challenge anyone to bring a court case, but I think at the end of the day we’re handling this by being proactive instead of reactive is the way to do this … There are no regulations and guidelines other than the narrow scope of a very vague law.”

Of course, in addition to rake or a seat charge, the sentence, “no person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings,” could cover membership fees.

Will they stay legal?

The million dollar question is: How will the Texas Legislature react to these rooms?

Another owner of a private card club, Sam VonKennel, helped create the Texas Association of Social Card Clubs to lobby the legislature.

“The Legislature hasn’t really seen it yet because it hasn’t really existed,” VonKennel told the local press. “As they pop up, I want to make sure the [legislature] is aware of them. What I would really like to do is get these guys to become licensed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and that way they’re absolutely certain they’re on the right side of the law.”

The problem is, the card rooms are new enough that they haven’t landed on the legislature’s radar yet, but like Daily Fantasy Sports, their success, and proliferation may end up being their undoing. Right now there are about a half dozen such clubs, but if they prove successful they’ll likely be popping up across the state.

University of Houston political science Professor Brandon Rottinghaus was quick to point out that being “technically legal” may not be a good enough argument, particularly in the conservative, and historically anti-gambling Texas legislature.

“It probably violates the spirit, if not the letter of the law,” Rottinghaus told the Houston Chronicle. “… in instances like that, there will definitely be a push back where the Attorney General and local law enforcement might take offense to the idea that there might be this illicit expansion of gambling, even if it’s not technically speaking illegal gambling.

“Trying to get around the law on this issue is never profitable. I think that’s the real danger that the people running these clubs have.

You may technically be in the right, but this issue is so fraught with politics and morality that you’re unlikely to succeed.”

Even if they’re deemed legal, I would expect the legislature to look at imposing regulations and taxation/licensing fees.

We are the Permian Basin’s premier private poker club offering a fun safe and secure environment. We have skilled professional dealers, friendly knowledgeable staff, and armed security for your comfort.

Our tournaments are competetive and cash games have plenty of action. We offer daily, monthly and annual memberships which include all the amenities, snacks and non alcoholic beverages. We are a BYOB and can store your beverage of choice. a fun safe and secure environment. We have skilled professional dealers, friendly knowledgeable staff, and armed security for your comfort.

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Games Spread

Rake Free poker games include:
No Limit Hold Em
PLO, Big O
Omaha Hi/Lo
Short Deck NLH
2 to 7 Triple Draw
Crazy Pineapple
Other poker variations upon request.

Buy-in Limits

$1/3 $50min/$300 max
$2/5 $100 min/$500 max
$5 OTB $200 min/$800 max
$10-25 OTB $1000 min/uncapped
Higher Limits upon request.

Private Party Poker Tournaments

Benefits, Fundraiser & Private Party Poker Tournaments at your place or ours Texas Hold Em Poker Tournaments are a very popular way to raise money for your non-profit or benefit. Tons of fun for a corporate party. Call today for more information.

Join our Live Wait List for the cash games you wish to play!

Really enjoy Kojacks. Very nice people and a great clean and hospitable place to play poker. My home away from home.

This place is incredible. I’ve been twice and had a great time. Extremely clean, nice tables, and security. This place complies with all Texas regulations so you never have to worry about breaking the law. They don’t take a rake and offer tournaments regularly. They also have darts, chess tables, and pool tables. HD TVs all around the building so you can watch the games. Great lounge area to kick back and relax. If you like playing cards and love action, go try them out. Midland has needed this for far too long.

Awesome place absolutely love it ! Great place to legally play some cash poker and make some awesome friends, love that it’s byob and security is a plus

I want to give props to Kojacks Poker Club. If I didn’t have all my experience from going here, I wouldn’t have done nearly as good as I did in Vegas. This is a very cool place to play cash poker. Professionally run. Totally legal. Great people-staff and players! It’s BYOB. They provide lots of free snacks, Gatorade, and water. From beginner to pro, this is a great place to play no limit Golden and Omaha. Thursday night is a free stack of chips to start with. Then you can rebuy and add on. Great times here! Thanks to everyone at Kojacks!!

Contacts

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Poker Clubs In Houston Tx

Poker Clubs In Houston Tx Houston Tx

Operating Hours

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 4:00 AM

Thursday: 6:00 PM – 4:00 AM

Poker Clubs In Houston Tx

Friday 6:00 PM – 4:00 AM

Poker Clubs In Houston Tx Near

Saturday 2:00 PM – 4:00 AM

Freerolls Poker Club Houston Tx

Sunday 2:00 – 2:00 AM