Doug Polk broke six days of silence on March 16 with a statement about the Lodge Card Club investigation. He denied any personal involvement in or knowledge of money laundering. He confirmed he is cooperating with law enforcement and recommitted to his personal guarantee that all player funds will be returned.
The statement came five days later than promised. On March 11, the day after the raid, Polk said he would release a detailed response “within the next day.” No YouTube video has followed either.
For the full timeline of events from the March 10 raid through the March 15 asset freeze, see our original Lodge raid coverage and the asset freeze follow-up.
What Polk Said
The statement was posted on X (Twitter) on March 16. The tone was measured and legal, a clear shift from the “witch hunt” language he used on March 11. Here is the statement in full:
Doug Polk’s full statement (March 16, 2026):
I did not participate in, and still have no knowledge of, any money laundering in the operation of the Lodge.
I understand that some people assume that because there was a search warrant, a crime must have been committed, but that’s not really how the process works. A search warrant is just one step in an investigation, based on an affidavit from law enforcement.
That affidavit has not been given to the Lodge or made public.
My heart goes out to the hundreds of Lodge employees whose jobs are in jeopardy. These are good, kind, hardworking people, and it is painful to see them struggle through this uncertainty.
I also care deeply about the situation for our members. There are numerous people with both chip balances and tournament payouts that cannot currently be processed. I want to reiterate that these members will be made whole, and I will personally make sure that happens, in coordination with my attorneys, so that it is done properly.
With the advice of my lawyers, I am committed to cooperating with law enforcement officials, answering any questions they have, and doing everything I can to clear up the confusion of what has and has not been happening at The Lodge.
I expect to provide another update soon, once more information is available and my attorneys have had an opportunity to fully assess the situation.
The line about Lodge employees carried more weight than anything else. Over 200 staff are out of work, and Polk calling them “good, kind, hardworking people” was the most human moment in an otherwise carefully constructed response.
What the Statement Doesn’t Address
The statement is careful about what it says. It’s equally careful about what it leaves out.
- No reopening timeline: the Lodge confirmed on March 15 that it cannot reopen during the investigation. Polk's statement does not mention a timeline or any progress toward reopening.
- Co-owners still silent: Andrew Neeme, Nik Airball, and Ethan 'Rampage' Yau have not commented publicly. Brad Owen remains the only other co-owner to have spoken, backing Polk's personal guarantee on March 11.
- No specifics on the investigation: Polk says the affidavit hasn't been shared with the Lodge. That means nobody outside law enforcement knows what specific activity triggered the warrant.
- No mention of the IRS: the March 10 raid involved three TABC units and the IRS. Polk's statement refers only to 'law enforcement officials' without naming agencies.
The player funds situation remains unresolved. Polk has guaranteed payouts personally, but with the Lodge’s bank accounts frozen, any payouts come from his personal finances. Brad Owen estimated the total exposure at “somewhere in the seven-figure range,” which puts significant weight on Polk’s personal net worth and business portfolio.
Texas poker players have seen this before. When Johnny Chan’s Houston room closed with players unable to cash their chips, it took weeks for the situation to resolve. The Lodge’s scale is significantly larger.
What Happens Next
Nothing has changed on the ground: no charges filed, affidavit sealed, Lodge still closed, over 200 staff out of work. Polk’s denial and cooperation pledge is significant, but it doesn’t change the material situation for players or employees.
The next real development will be one of three things: formal charges, the release of the affidavit, or an announcement that the Lodge can reopen. Until one of those happens, this story is in a holding pattern.
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We’ll continue to update as this develops. For ongoing coverage, follow our latest news.
