Short version. Texas has no legal casino poker. It has dozens of private membership clubs instead, concentrated in Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio. They are open to anyone who buys a membership, and they have survived both a Dallas court fight and a 2026 raid on the biggest room in the state.
City guides
How big it is
PokerAtlas counted 68 active clubs in November 2024, and later counts run past 80. Houston has the most clubs and tables, followed by Austin and Dallas.
The names you will see everywhere
| Operator | Clubs | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Card House | Six: Dallas, Las Colinas, Austin (TCH Social), Houston, Spring and the Rio Grande Valley | Game availability, the Trailblazer Poker Tour, and the first WSOP Circuit stop in Texas |
| The Lodge Card Club | Round Rock, near Austin, and San Antonio | The largest room in the state. Co-owned by Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen |
| Champions | Houston, and Dallas since May 2026 | The biggest Houston tournament series; hotel on site in Houston |
| Shuffle | Shuffle 512 in Austin, Shuffle 214 in Dallas | Freerolls and smart rooms |
Is it legal?
The clubs rely on a defence in the Texas Penal Code for private games where the house takes no cut. Two events shaped the last two years:
- Dallas. The city spent three years trying to shut Texas Card House Dallas. In September 2025 the Texas Supreme Court declined to hear the case, leaving in place an appeals court ruling in the club's favour.
- The Lodge. State agents raided The Lodge in Round Rock on March 10, 2026. A grand jury declined to bring charges and the club reopened on May 26.
A bill to write the club model into law passed the Texas House in 2023 and died in the Senate. The gray area remains. More on the legal page.
Big tournaments have arrived
National tours stayed away from Texas for years. That changed in 2026: the WSOP Circuit ran at TCH Social in Austin from April 23 to May 4, the World Poker Tour brought a $1 million guaranteed WPT Prime championship to The Lodge in October, and the PGT Texas Poker Open ran at Champions in Houston.
What it costs
Texas rooms are private membership clubs. You pay a membership, often by the day, and an hourly seat fee. The house takes no rake from the pot. Budget roughly $10 to $15 an hour at the table and ask for the total before you sit. Background: are Texas poker rooms legal?
Online poker in Texas
What is licensed, and which sites take sign-ups, is on the Texas online poker page.
Common questions
Are there casinos with poker in Texas?
No commercial casinos. Live poker is played in private membership clubs.
How many poker clubs are in Texas?
PokerAtlas counted 68 in November 2024 and later counts exceed 80.
Do I need to be a member to play?
Yes, but anyone can join at the door. Day memberships are common.
What is the biggest poker room in Texas?
The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, near Austin.