Texas Poker Room Raided, Four Face Organized Crime Charges as Prosecutors Warn More Busts Coming

Four ‌people ‌were arrested Thursday evening (Nov. 12) on charges of organized criminal activity after deputies raided a poker room in Houston. Prosecutors said the bust on the Katy Poker Club was part of a wider effort to shut down illegal gambling halls around the city.

Prosecutors said the venue had broken gambling laws because it was taking a percentage of each pot, otherwise known as a rake. The operation followed a yearlong investigation by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

The four suspects arrested were allegedly involved in running the club. Players were removed from the premises but not detained.

The identities of the suspects have not been made public.

Second Raid in Three Weeks

This was the second raid in three weeks involving Harris County prosecutors. On Oct. 22, Houston police shut down the nearby 101 Poker Club, arresting four people on charges of organized criminal activity and confiscating more than $118,000.

The poker room reopened less than 24 hours later, despite the arrests and confiscation.

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said he was not going to let similarly accused venues reopen with ease.

“This is not a one-off issue,” Teare said to reporters on Thursday, adding that his office was investigating other poker rooms around the county.

Where Texas Draws the Line

Texas has some of the harshest gambling laws in the country, but private poker clubs have proliferated by sticking to a business model that avoids taking a cut of the pot. Instead, they typically charge membership fees or rent seats by the hour.

Private gambling can be a defense against prosecution under Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code, as long as no one derives an economic benefit other than personal winnings and all players have an equal opportunity to win based only on skill or luck.

The legal status of commercial, membership-based poker clubs is contested, although Teare said his office was not going after legal businesses. Illegal rake clubs hurt legitimate businesses and could draw in other illegal activities, he said.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mike Santos said that illegal gambling spots can lead to robberies, human trafficking and other crimes.

Investigators will review the club’s financial records and bank accounts to determine how much money the business made and if additional charges can be filed, including money laundering. Teare said he expects more enforcement actions against other poker rooms.