New Poker club opens in San Antonio after exploiting legal loophole
Card clubs in Texas have found a way to navigate the state’s stringent anti-gambling laws by exploiting a perceived legal opening in recent times. A new establishment, Brooklyn Square Social Club and Card Parlor, has just commenced operations in downtown San Antonio, near the River Walk, as indicated in recent records from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
This newly established card club, officially registered under the LLC name Tres Comas, features 16 poker tables and an accompanying lounge with a bar. It operates from 12 PM to 4 AM daily.
The legality of such operations might appear puzzling at first glance. In essence, card clubs, often referred to as poker rooms, manage to function within the confines of Texas law despite the strict anti-gambling regulations. According to Ryan Crow, the proprietor of Texas Card House in Dallas, who spoke to Spectrum News in 2021, these establishments leverage a legal loophole found in Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code. Essentially, as long as the card parlor refrains from taking a portion of the pot, commonly known as the rake, they remain on the right side of the law.
Typically, card parlors operate within a private, members-only setting and may charge a membership fee or hourly usage fees. It’s worth noting that Brooklyn Square Social Club and Card Parlor is not the sole poker club in the city, as several others are also in operation.
