Well-known Texas Poker club The Lodge Card Club It was raided recently, and the reason for the investigation has finally surfaced. According to Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) According to the official statement, this operation is related toSuspected of money laundering and illegal gambling activitiesRelated to the investigation.
This one is made up of well-known poker professionals Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen The co-owned poker room is still closed, and the official timetable for its re-opening has not yet been announced.
On Tuesday, TABC law enforcement officials entered the Lodge Card Club venue in the Austin area to launch a search operation for a previously undisclosed investigation. Since the agency responsible for the investigation mainly manages alcohol-related matters, many people initially speculated that the operation might be related to alcohol licensing issues or the provision of alcohol to minors.
However, with the release of the official statement, these speculations have been confirmed to be incorrect.
TABC announces background of investigation
Director of Communications, TABC Chris Porter Hunter Poker was provided with basic information about the investigation and explained the background of the operation.
He said：
"The Financial Crime Investigation Department of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, together with the special Investigation Unit and the operations Department, has executed a search and seizure order at The Lodge Card Club. This action is aimed at a case involvingSuspected of money laundering and illegal gamblingThe ongoing investigation. 」
It is understood that this operation has about 20 TABC agentsParticipate, and at the same time Williamson County Sheriff's Office (Williamson County Sheriff's Office) and U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) With the assistance of law enforcement officials.
So far, the official confirmation No one has been arrested yet, and no formal charges have been filed against the company.。 The relevant investigation is still in progress, so law enforcement agencies have not announced more details for the time being.
After the incident, The Lodge Card Club also issued a short statement to its members on Thursday morning to explain the situation.
The statement stated that：
"Our team of lawyers is working hard to understand the reasons for this search, but so far, the relevant departments have not clearly explained the overall situation to us. 」
As the investigation continues, this incident has attracted widespread attention in the Texas hold'em circle. As one of the most influential poker venues in Texas in recent years, whether The Lodge can resume operations quickly in the future and how the results of the survey will affect the local poker industry remains to be seen. Follow-up development.
All related news of The Lodge Club：
The Lodge Card Club Issues Statement Following Raid; Facility Remains Closed
Doug Polk: Player Funds Are 100% Safe, Calls The Lodge Incident a "Political Witch Hunt"