Lodge Card Club in Texas to Reopen May 26 Before WSOP

The Lodge Card Club in Texas announced it will reopen on May 26 after more than two months of closure. The Lodge X account announced the reopening date on Tuesday.

It is a quick reopening timeline, with less than a month passing since the announcement that all charges against the Lodge were rejected at the end of April.

The unannounced Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission raid on March 10 shuttered the Lodge immediately and forced it to let go of all staff. Rehiring a staff will obviously rank among the club’s top priorities in advance of its reopening.

Keep Reading

Lodge Lays Off Staff, Remains Closed Indefinitely After County DA Takes Aim

Early Reports: The Lodge Raided By State Police and TABC

The Lodge Closed Until Further Notice; Doug Polk Releases Statement

Reopening the Same Day as the Start of the WSOP

The Lodge’s reopening date just happens to fall on the same day as the first day of the 2026 World Series of Poker, a day after Memorial Day.

Summer is typically a slower season for most poker operators. Many potential customers gravitate toward outdoor activities and vacations during the summer months. Outside of Las Vegas, live properties lose business to players who travel to the desert. There, they can enjoy huge poker tournaments at multiple venues and massively boosted cash game liquidity.

Timing it on the same day as the start of the WSOP and the slow season in general may hurt early business. Texas locals serious about poker may already have lit off for Vegas.

With the series only a couple of weeks away, most players won’t look to change plans even if they prefer to stay home and play.

Smaller crowds may actually give the Lodge a chance to restart operations in a kind of soft opening. The crowds will then pick up and get larger as players become used to the Lodge as an option again and initial excitement over the WSOP fades.

So far, there are no announcements on a grand opening tournament series or anything. But knowing Doug Polk, a grand welcome back event is likely in the works at some point. The Lodge could also offer a cashback or reduced-fee promotion to entice cash-game players to return.

Jeffrey McMillan

Poker Writer

Jeffrey is an Expert Sports and Poker Writer with poker being his specific scope for the better part of five years. He has worked in various capacities at the biggest poker events in the world, WSOP, EPT, local tournaments and more. He has worked with PokerNews, Poker.Org, 888poker and the WSOP itself through the years. Jeff is also a fervent follower of many sports, professional, collegiate and international, with a particular interest in tennis. He received a Master's in Sports Management from the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) and a Bachelors in the same field from Clemson University.