• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Texas Card House Opens First Legal Poker Room in Austin

March 11, 2015 by Edgar Barguiarena

Texas Card House in Austin

Texas Card House on Manchaca in South Austin (Credit Taylor Wier)

It almost sounds too good to be true. Legal gambling in Austin? Short of a four hour drive to Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, it simply didn’t exist before now. Texas Card House has changed all that, offering the first legal poker room in Austin–and in the whole state of Texas outside reservations.

The trick is in the language. Texas Card House offers membership to a “card and social club” and provides a facility where members can gamble. There are no tips to the dealer and no rake (house share). Texas Holdem poker will be on the tables most nights, but other card games like Omaha Poker or Bridge/Gin/Hearts/Spades are available upon request.

How to Legalize Gambling in Texas

This gutsy move is the brainchild of Sam Von Kennel. Sam’s unique background gave him the perfect insight to set up the first legal poker room in the state of Texas. You see, Sam used to work for the Chairman of the Licensing and Administrative committee. “We got lobbied by all the major casinos including Harrah’s and MGM. They all wanted a piece of Texas,” Sam mentioned on the club’s grand opening night.

Texas Card House Poker Tables

Four tables in the main room – Texas Holdem will be the primary game played (Credit Taylor Wier)

None of the casinos were successful in lobbying for legalized gambling in Texas, but Sam’s experience gave him the idea for exploiting the loophole in state law. As an avid poker player who runs regular house games, Von Kennel came up with the membership idea to give folks a setting where they can play poker in a fun, safe environment.

Country Club Setting

“The hardest part about setting up this business was finding a landlord that would be willing to rent to us once they found out what we were doing,” Sam said.

Once they found the right location in South Austin it was just a matter of sprucing up the place with a few HDTV’s, four pro-level poker tables and a lounge area where players can wait for the next game. Sam intends to have all the major sports packages for watching live sports, and eventually intends to buy major fighting events on the weekends. “This will be a social club as much as a poker room. I want people to enjoy hanging out here,” Sam told me.

Legal Poker Game at Texas Card House in Austin

Tournament chips at Texas Card House, Austin’s first legal poker room (Credit Taylor Wier)

Texas Card House doesn’t have an alcohol license yet, but they’ll be working on that in the coming months. As a workaround, certain membership levels will get you up to three drinks on the house. There were two polite servers running around getting drinks and water on opening night. And surprisingly, there was a ratio of about 65/35 guys to girls at the event.

How Texas Card House Works

The idea of legal gambling right here in the capital of Texas can be hard to grasp, so let me go over the rules again. Potential gamblers pay a daily or monthly membership for access to the card tables. Once there, they are provided with a dealer and table alongside up to 9 other players. There are currently $60 rebuy tournaments set up Wednesday-Sunday nights, as well as the option to walk into a cash game.

Check out their schedule to see the types of games being played and when they start. Membership levels are as follows:

Poker Chips at Texas Card House in Austin

Credit: Taylor Wier

Single Day Silver Membership

  • $25
  • Valid through the end of the night
  • Allows access to Texas Card House’s rake, tip free card room and non-alcoholic beverage menu

Single Day Gold Membership

  • $35
  • Valid through the end of the night
  • Allows access to Texas Card House’s rake, tip free card room and up to three alcoholic beverages
  • Includes priority seating for gameplay and entrance into free roll promotional events of that day

Silver Level Membership

  • $100/month
  • Allows access to Texas Card House’s rake, tip free card room and non-alcoholic beverage menu

Gold Level Membership

  • $150/month
  • Allows access to Texas Card House’s rake, tip free card room and up to three alcoholic beverages a night
  • Includes priority seating for gameplay and entrance into promotional free tool events

Founders Level Membership

  • $100/month
  • Minimum 6 month purchase required
  • Allows access to Texas Card House’s rake, tip free card room and up to three alcoholic beverages a night
  • Includes priority seating for gameplay and entrance into promotional free tool events
Poker Chips at Texas Card House

Credit: Taylor Wier

The first legal poker room in Texas has been open for only a few weeks now, but they’re already thinking about expanding. The current facility has a back room with the potential for up to 10 more tables. Given the club’s way south Austin location and immense popularity so far, I suspect a north Austin location is inevitable.

The concept works as its intended to, giving players a safe environment to legally gamble playing poker. You’re left with only one question after your first experience, how has nobody thought of this before?

Located at 11907 Manchaca Road

@Crafty_Ed wants to know:

Do you play regular house games? If so, would you consider Texas Card House as an alternative?

Filed Under: Activities, Discoveries, Entertainment, Nightlife Tagged With: south austin

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

33 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
K
K
8 years ago

Unfortunately, he will be raided and shut down in a month.

0
v
v
8 years ago
Reply to  K

Wow, nice call. They did get raided a month later.

0
Texas Card House
Texas Card House
8 years ago
Reply to  v

We have not been raided. We still have all chips in play. We do not plan on ever being raided. We are not sure who keeps falsely speaking about the club, but we will get the false comments taken off of this article asap. For any questions please call us (512) 284-9804

0
Patrick Jones
Patrick Jones
8 years ago
Reply to  Texas Card House

How do you explain this? Even if you don’t get raided it looks like you will still have issues.

Looks like the owner is getting sued:

Daniel Kebort; THE Poker Lounge Partnership
v.
Samuel Von Kennel; Texas Card House, LLC
4/14/2015 D-1-GN-15-001472Fiduciary
duty, fraud and misappropriation. Defendant Samuel Von Kennel broke a
partnership agreement with plaintiff Daniel Kebort by forming Texas Card
House, LLC without his knowledge and by stealing the partnership’s
trade secrets and business plans.

0
Steve
Steve
8 years ago
Reply to  Patrick Jones

You do understand you can be sued for just about anything and in no way does it actually mean you are guilty or have broken a law. The “trade secrets” are bullshit. If they didn’t have a noncompete there is clearly nothing illegal and the other individual would have to pay the noncompete.

0
Poker host 1
Poker host 1
7 years ago
Reply to  v

Odd..

0
Irishmike
Irishmike
8 years ago

Really, The first. Elks, VFWs, Knights of Columbus, Redmen Etc. Have been doing it for decades. We (They) just aren’t looking for publicity. Oh, by the way all wagering (gambling) is illegal in Texas. There are excetions to the law. http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Laws/Texas/

0
Edgar B
Edgar B
8 years ago
Reply to  Irishmike

Those are all multi-use facilities. This is a dedicated business that is solely meant to house card games.

0
Poker host 1
Poker host 1
7 years ago
Reply to  Irishmike
0
Irishmike
Irishmike
7 years ago
Reply to  Poker host 1

pulled it off Google Images like I do a lot of the pictures I use. Don’t really research where they come from. Here are some I used this week. Thought it was a cool logo. I’ll Take it down if you want.

0
Poker host 1
Poker host 1
7 years ago
Reply to  Irishmike

Thank you for your continued support.

Alamo City Poker Club and Chips 4 Children will strive to provide you the best in hosting and camaraderie as your private poker hosts in 2015.
Play Strong,
2103520357

0
Irishmike
Irishmike
7 years ago
Reply to  Irishmike

sorry once it’s been posted can’t take it down.

0
Irishmike
Irishmike
8 years ago

47.04. Keeping a Gambling Place

(a) A person commits an offense if he knowingly uses or permits another to use as a gambling place any real estate, building, room, tent, vehicle, boat, or other property whatsoever owned by him or under his control, or rents or lets any such property with a view or expectation that it be so used.

(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:

(1) the gambling occurred in a private place;

(2) no person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings; and

(3) except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants.

(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

0
Billpoker
Billpoker
7 years ago
Reply to  Irishmike

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that poker isn’t gambling. Why all of the selective legalese? I’m guessing that the Indians are behind this because they like their monopoly. Imagine if winstar had to compete with these rates!

0
jarrod
jarrod
8 years ago

Playing at a place of business, or home its legal to play poker if all players have the same advantage and all money is available to win by the players. No tip or rake and it’s legal. And no entry fee to walk in the door that doesn’t go to the pot.

100% legal.

0
Philipp Knirck
Philipp Knirck
8 years ago

wow this is sooooo cheap! u normally play 10-20 per hour in rake!!! i almost thing it is too cheap!!

the games must be really good!

0
Patrick Jones
Patrick Jones
8 years ago

This is not an original idea. It looks like the only brainchild he had was stealing bills while working in the chairman’s office.

http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/15150-social-poker-bill-introduced-in-texas

0
Dave from UofT
Dave from UofT
8 years ago

They got raided yesterday I heard

0
Texas Card House
Texas Card House
8 years ago
Reply to  Dave from UofT

Texas Card House did not get raided. We are open this week Tuesday-Friday 7pm-3am.

0
Texas Card House
Texas Card House
8 years ago

We di not get raided. We are open this week Tuesday-Friday 7pm-3am.

0
Texas Card House
Texas Card House
8 years ago

Retraction: We did get raided. But we are still open 7pm-3am for now.

0
Confused
Confused
8 years ago

This is really confusing. Did they get raided or not?

0
Chancey
Chancey
8 years ago

The police took all the chips $5 and higher so they have been using custom Texas Card House drink coasters like plaques.

0
Bob
Bob
8 years ago
Reply to  Chancey

What do you mean they took $5 and higher chips? And what happen during the raid? Im interested in coming our to TCH but not if im gonna end up in trouble or something

0
Edgar B
Edgar B
8 years ago
Reply to  Chancey

Can you clarify a bit more? This seems like an odd way to handle enforcement on an issue like this.

0
Texas Card House
Texas Card House
8 years ago
Reply to  Chancey

We have not been raided. We still have all chips in play. We do not plan on ever being raided. We are not sure who keeps falsely speaking about the club, but we will work to get the false comments taken off of this article asap. For any questions please call us (512) 284-9804.

0
Texas Card House
Texas Card House
8 years ago

We have not been raided. We still have all chips in play. We do not plan on ever being raided. We are not sure who keeps falsely speaking about the club, but we will get the false comments taken off of this article asap. For any questions please call us (512) 284-9804

0
Patrick Jones
Patrick Jones
8 years ago

Looks like the owner is getting sued:

Daniel Kebort; THE Poker Lounge Partnership
v.
Samuel Von Kennel; Texas Card House, LLC
4/14/2015 D-1-GN-15-001472

Fiduciary duty, fraud and misappropriation. Defendant Samuel Von Kennel broke a partnership agreement with plaintiff Daniel Kebort by forming Texas Card House, LLC without his knowledge and by stealing the partnership’s trade secrets and business plans.

0
Rancor
Rancor
7 years ago
Reply to  Patrick Jones

Hey Patrick jones
Read the transcripts of your trial. …. Judge says strike that…..
Who are you suing next ? Your attorneys?
Sorry you arent enjoying life

0
Edward M Zihlman
Edward M Zihlman
7 years ago

What happened. Lastnight….. There are comments on Facebook about it..

0
Laila Dugom
Laila Dugom
7 years ago

This would be untrue.
Chips 4 Children and Alamo City Poker Club created the first legal poker room in Austin, San Antonio, and Houston.

They have been operating legally for over four years.

Sam copied format and ideas from them.

Respectfully,
Laila Dugom

0
Laila Dugom
Laila Dugom
7 years ago

I’m sorry to hear you were raided. Did anyone get arrested?

What happened legally?

Why were you not legal?

We have never had any trouble. I pray we don’t. Each of our locations (12) only hold one-two tables max. But each location is take free. We operate off dyes and donations.

We appreciate anything you can tell us to prevent us from doing anything wrong as well.
We have given over $800k to local charities and members.

Wishing you well,
Laila
Manager of player relations.
Alamo City Poker Club

0
Oliver
Oliver
8 years ago

It’s a really nice room. Great action and a great place to buy weed

0

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9 | Rainbow on the Creek

Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023 include Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, Lakefest 2023, and more! Deal Alert – Check […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9 | 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride

12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9, 2023 include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of June 9 which include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, Austin Pride Block Party Kick Off, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. […]

Things to do in Austin this week of June 5 | Cine Las Americas International Film Festival

Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 5 include Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter Concert, and more!

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of June 5, 2023, include Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter in Concert, The Haunting of the Tavern, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin […]

Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 - celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!

Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 – celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!

Get ready to make this Austin Memorial Day weekend unforgettable! Whether you are looking forward to Memorial Day fireworks 2023 Austin or Memorial Day weekend concerts, there are a number of things to do on Memorial Day weekend Austin. Here are some fun Memorial Day festivals 2023 events to help you make the most of […]

Mother's Day Specials in Austin 2023 - 40+ Verified Discounts and Freebies Near You!

Mother’s Day Specials in Austin 2023 – 40+ Verified Discounts and Freebies Near You!

Welcome to our ultimate guide to Mother’s Day specials in Austin 2023! It’s time to show the extraordinary moms in our lives just how much we adore them. To make this year’s celebration truly unforgettable, we’ve scoured through the city’s top shops and stores to compile an extraordinary list of 125 awesome deals and promos! […]

Recent Posts

  • Father’s Day Deals 2023 in Austin – 25 Verified discounts and freebies from retail stores near you!
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023 include Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, and more!
  • 12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9, 2023 include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, and More!
  • Father’s Day Events Austin – 10 Best Things to Do on Fathers Day 2023 include Beer, BBQ, Concerts, Father & Daughter Dance and more!
  • Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 5 include Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter Concert, and more!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9, 2023 include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, and More!
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023 include Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, and more!
  • 8 Laid-back Waterfront Restaurants in Austin (Besides The Oasis)
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz
x
x