The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, Texas, has laid off its hundreds of employees as its doors will remain shut for the “foreseeable future.”
The Lodge Card Club was raided just over two weeks ago by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and is currently under investigation for money laundering and illegal gambling.
Employees were sent an email late Tuesday night, confirming that the entire staff has been laid off.
Official e-mail to employees
Jason Levin, one of The Lodge Card Club’s three majority owners, sent out the following email to their roughly 200 employees.
“When we started this journey, there were no guarantees—only belief, grit, and a shared commitment to build something meaningful. Through the early challenges, we found our footing together. We built relationships, earned trust, and created a place that was more than just a business. It became a community—because of you.
“Each of you played a role in bringing that vision to life. From the front desk to the porters, dealers, managers, and production team—every detail, every interaction, every long day and late night added up to something truly special. You made this place what it was. Not the building, not the brand—you.
“That’s why it’s so painful to say that The Lodge Round Rock location will need to shut its doors for the foreseeable future. While no charges have been brought, and we maintain that the club has always operated with the utmost integrity and within the laws of Texas, the Williamson County District Attorney’s office has made clear to our attorneys that they believe The Lodge’s current business model does not comply with Texas law. For this reason, we cannot re-open. Doing so would run the risk that authorities might once again raid The Lodge, seize more cash and assets, and potentially make arrests. Because we have not been given any indication of when the investigation will conclude, we have no other viable path forward at this time. As a result, we are forced to make the incredibly difficult decision to let our entire staff go. We hope you know just how valued each of you are, and as we hope for a favorable outcome, should we be able to once again open our doors, our plan would be to welcome you back with open arms.
“There are no words that fully capture how much this hurts—not just as a business decision, but on a human level. I am deeply grateful for everything you’ve given, and I will carry that with me always. You didn’t just show up to work—you built something that mattered.
“As we now turn to the difficult task of determining what comes next, please know that each of you has my respect, my appreciation, and my sincere thanks. I hope you take pride in what we created together, because it was real, and it was special.
“I will miss all of you more than I can say.
“With a heavy heart.”
What’s next?
In a 22-page affidavit, the TABC noted $1.35 million in suspicious deposits made from The Lodge into a sweeps bank account held by Tempus Holdings, Inc., another business associated with The Lodge Card Club.
The Lodge Card Club was accused of breaking the following five Texas state laws:
Texas Penal Code 71.02(a) – ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
Texas Penal Code 34.02 – MONEY LAUNDERING
Texas Penal Code 47.03 – PROMOTION OF GAMBLING
Texas Penal Code 47.04 – KEEPING A GAMBLING PLACE
Texas Penal Code 47.06 – POSSESSION OF GAMBLING DEVICE, EQUIPMENT OR PARAPHERNALIA
Doug Polk has continuously denied any wrongdoing and said in a tweet that he’ll be able to put together a video addressing the entire situation shortly.
Nobody has been arrested or charged with any wrongdoing as of yet. The Lodge Card Club has yet to make any official statement on its website. We will continue to monitor this story as the situation progresses.
