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 are the key points:
- Denied knowledge: ‘I did not participate in, and still have no knowledge of, any money laundering in the operation of the Lodge.’
- Affidavit sealed: the search warrant affidavit has not been shared with the Lodge or made public. Polk noted that a search warrant is ‘just one step in an investigation’ and does not mean a crime was committed.
- Player funds guaranteed: recommitted to making all members whole for chip balances and pending tournament payouts. Said payouts will be coordinated with his attorneys ‘so that it is done properly.’
- Full cooperation: committed to cooperating with law enforcement and answering any questions they have.
- Another update coming: said he expects to provide a further update once his attorneys have fully assessed the situation.
Polk also acknowledged the impact on the Lodge’s 200+ staff members, calling them “good, kind, hardworking people.” That line carried more weight than anything else in the statement. These are the people paying the highest price while the investigation plays out.
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.
We’ll continue to update as this develops. For ongoing coverage, follow our latest news.
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