The Lodge Card Club confirmed on March 15 that all of its assets and bank accounts had been frozen. The freeze was part of the TABC and IRS investigation into suspected money laundering and illegal gambling. At that point, no charges had been filed and no reopening timeline had been given.
At the time, the club's staff were out of work, and players had funds tied up in chips or pending tournament payouts with no way to cash out.
Doug Polk issued a formal statement on March 16 denying any knowledge of money laundering. For the full breakdown of the March 10 raid, the agencies involved, and the Texas legal context, see our original coverage.
Update (September 28, 2026): The freeze did not last. The state dropped the money laundering allegation in its April 8 civil forfeiture filing, and after a Williamson County grand jury declined to indict anyone on April 28, the seized and frozen assets were released and the Lodge reopened on May 26. See how the case ended.
What the Lodge Said on March 15
The Lodge posted a statement on X (Twitter) addressed to staff, members, and the wider poker community. The key points:
- Assets and bank accounts frozen as part of the ongoing investigation. The club has no access to its own funds.
- No charges filed against any owner or employee.
- Cannot reopen during the investigation. No timeline provided.
- Over 200 staff members rely on the Lodge for their livelihoods and are currently unable to work.
- Player funds remain tied up in chips and pending tournament payouts.
- 'Very little information' has been made available to the club's legal team about the reasons behind the investigation.
The statement also acknowledged the impact on vendors, partners, and the broader Round Rock community. The Lodge encouraged supporters to share messages publicly, and the response on X was substantial.
What this meant for players: Polk personally guaranteed all player funds on March 11, estimated by Brad Owen at somewhere in the seven-figure range. While the accounts were frozen, any payouts depended on Polk's personal finances. The assets were released after the April 28 grand jury decision.
Polk's Formal Statement on March 16
Five days after promising a detailed statement “within the next day,” Polk posted his response on X. He denied any personal involvement in or knowledge of money laundering at the Lodge. At that point, the search warrant affidavit had not been shared with the Lodge or made public.
Polk recommitted to his personal guarantee on player funds and said he was cooperating with law enforcement. For the full breakdown of what he said and what the statement leaves out, see our coverage of Polk's March 16 statement and what it doesn't address.
At the time, Andrew Neeme, Nik Airball, and poker vlogger Ethan “Rampage” Yau had not commented publicly. Three days later, on March 19, two-time Vlogger of the Year Andrew Neeme posted on X about the staff left without work.
What Happened Next
The case moved in the Lodge's favour over the following weeks. The warrant details emerged on March 17, the Lodge laid off its staff on March 24, and the state dropped the money laundering allegation in its April 8 civil forfeiture filing. On April 28, a Williamson County grand jury declined to indict anyone, and the Lodge reopened on May 26.
Our later reports cover each step: the search warrant details, the closure and staff layoffs, the April 9 forfeiture deadline and the civil forfeiture filing.
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