DALLAS – Texas is one of the strictest states when it comes to gambling and the legality of poker rooms is often debated. Dallas approved its first official poker room, Texas Card House, back in 2019, which is still operating today and has plans to expand.
What you need to know
- The Texas Card House in Dallas, officially opened in 2009, has plans to expand
- Cara Mendelsohn, a member of the Dallas City Council of District 12, is pushing for a city code change so that future poker rooms cannot be opened in retail spaces without a specific usage permit
- Mendelsohn’s borough includes three counties: Collin, Denton, and Dallas
- Many people will say that poker rooms that are “legal” can function because of a “loophole” in Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code
But Cara Mendelsohn, councilor for District 12 of Dallas, is pushing for a city code change so that future poker rooms cannot open in a retail space without special usage permits or consideration of nearby residential areas to prevent them from opening where they are . t wanted.
Texas Card House (TCH) in Dallas. (Spectrum News 1)
“Poker rooms will not be welcome in communities where they support single family homes. For the city, I think we need to look into entertainment areas and ways we can encourage people to come together in a safe and secure environment. “However, I’m not sure this business model fits that definition,” said Mendelsohn. “Maybe there is a better place for that [poker rooms]whether it is even legal, which in my opinion is questionable. “
The legality of poker rooms is in the air depending on who you’re talking to. Many people will say that poker rooms that are “legal” can function because of a “loophole” in Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code.
“Most forms of gambling are illegal in Texas. But there is a way in the Criminal Code to run a private club that protects you from prosecution for illegal gambling, ”said Ryan Crow, CEO of Texas Card House Things You Must Do. You have to play in a private setting, so we run as a private club. The second thing is that you cannot get any economic benefit from gambling itself, so we do not take any rake. We work so that we essentially bill by the hour to be within the facility. And thirdly, everyone must have the same chance of winning. “
Crow said that games like blackjack, craps or roulette that have a house edge are illegal. The only games offered at Texas Card House are player versus player, and there is no house component.
TCH customer presents money. (Spectrum News 1)
“Poker has been in Texas since, I mean, it’s called Texas Hold’em. I mean, this is where the game most of these guys play originated. And all we’re trying to do is keep people safe give.” Playing poker. Because poker was in Texas, it never went away, it was just pushed underground. And when things are pushed underground, good things don’t happen. And that’s why we’re trying to put poker in the spotlight. We’re “trying to take the stigma out of poker. It’s safe, it’s fun. And in the right atmosphere, it can be for anyone. Players haven’t had many opportunities to play in legal places. You too. You have to go to Louisiana.” , or you have to go to Oklahoma, or you have to fly to Vegas. We believe one of the greatest things we offer is a safe place to play poker. A game that you can watch on ESPN, you know, five nights the Week.”
Crow says that many games are played underground in Dallas and across the state, but he says his poker rooms actually caused the numbers to drop.
“When you speak to the authorities here in Dallas, it sounds like there’s a bit of a gambling problem or a problem with illegal gambling in Dallas. I think a lot of those are about eight liners. But when it comes to poker rooms, there are a number of them. I haven’t been to any of them myself so I can’t speak about the types of games that are on offer, but I know they are pretty widespread. And if something goes wrong with these games, it’s very unlikely that they’ll call the police or do anything about it, ”said Crow. “It’s important to have a safe and legal place to play, and we’ve actually seen in many cities with these clubs that the underground scenes or the illegal games actually go away over time. And we’ve essentially taken them out of business. for want of a better term. “
Mendelsohn says Texas law says gambling is illegal, no “gray areas” about it. She says poker rooms are undesirable in District 12, and if anyone is gambling in Collin County, the district attorney is “happy to prosecute them for illegal gambling.”
“Gambling is illegal in Texas. So if the poker companies want to make it legal, they have to go to Austin themselves and get them to pass a law. But right now, if you look at Chapter 47, it seems pretty clear it’s illegal. You would argue that there is a gray area. And so this will likely turn into a lawsuit. Whether this happens because of Collin County or because it happens elsewhere doesn’t really matter, “Mendelsohn said.
Mendelsohn’s borough includes three counties, Collin, Denton, and Dallas. She says the city of Dallas has approved two SUPs in the past, but even then there was “gray room”. She said the city attorney would “reconsider” the law and “do some additional research.”
“I don’t go to a poker room. That’s not my interest. I’m not against poker. My husband has been playing a monthly game and has been for 20 years. His poker games are not gambling. His poker game is playing cards with friends, having a beer and have a few M & Ms. So it’s socializing, but there’s no one making money, “Mendelsohn said. “And the part that literally makes this illegal, from what I’ve read, is that I’m not a lawyer – is that someone? Makes money in these establishments. Whether it’s food sales, alcohol sales, chair rentals, entrance fees, anyone makes money off of it.” Poker. When we talk about a game at someone’s home – I have no problem with – nobody makes any money but the players themselves, which is legal in Texas. It’s actually one of the specific exceptions. “
Mendelsohn also highlighted the point that although the Criminal Code provides for a defense against prosecution if the “gambling was in a private location” anyone could become a member of a poker club, so this should be clarified as a cover charge.
“You’re talking about the whole idea of ’is it public or not public? Oh, people have to pay a membership when they come in. ‘ But if someone can become a member, it is public. That’s just a nominal fee, ”said Mendelsohn.
Empty table in TCH. (Spectrum News 1)
Crow says while membership requirements aren’t strict, TCH doesn’t just let everyone in.
“We take your driver’s license, we scan it, we get all of your information archived. You have to pay to become a member. But yeah, I mean we don’t have very strict membership policies, but we do it when we have problems with players “We do background checks on them and we keep excluding people,” said Crow. “So, yeah, we actually have a pretty healthy list of people who are banned and not allowed to join our club. And so not everyone is allowed in.”
Crow says he’s not against Mendelsohn’s desire to require SUPs. He says he just wants the public not to be afraid of poker rooms or to have a misconception about the way they work.
“It took us over two years to open this club. It is very difficult to find a location, especially in a new city where there are no clubs. We have just completed the SUP process for the second of our locations here in Dallas and it’s very challenging. But it’s worth it. When we first tried to get ours [initial] SUP, we were denied by someone who was essentially next to us. We got them in, we showed them our club in Austin, and they then essentially withdrew their opposition to it. We went to the city council and were able to get our SUP. And while it’s very difficult, it can be difficult to get. I’m not really against oblige the clubs to make sure the clubs are doing the things they are supposed to do to make a positive contribution to the community, “said Crow. “And so I think that having things for cities is not bad. I will say it is not easy and it definitely creates a barrier to entry. However, they know that when you get a SUP that is in the area you go to, that you are welcome, your neighbors know who you are and they see you as a contributing member of the community rather than a black eye . “
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