Lodge Card Club Raided / Grand Jury does not indict any Lodge employees
Came looking for some info on this, but I guess I will kick the thread off. Anyone there at the time or know more detail
Seems to me that if the Lodge was in violation of any statutes, then so were the rest of the cardrooms in Texas. Got to wonder what they did to piss off the TABC. Looks like Bush Jr. was right; the constitution is just a piece of paper. We are not protected from unreasonable seizures by the government.
DA likely thought he would spend the resources to fight one case first to get a win and establish case law before going after everyone else.
Words, words, words. Yes, obviously, the TABC doesn’t prosecute cases. So what? They were intimately involved in this entire sting. They’re all part of the same law enforcement effort, as you almost certainly know. Do you think TABC and the politically ambitious DA weren’t working hand in glove over the entire two-year investigation? They almost certainly planned the entire ope
Certainly were integral to the investigation. But I have seen noting saying that they were any part of the GJ other than maybe witnesses. I don't think the TABC gives a crap either way about 150 jobs as those have no influence or impact on them. (BTW, ALJ are NOT elected. They are not even part of the judicial branch. They are part of the executive. You might want to learn a little about the topic before reaching conclusions.)
As to the GJ telling them to piss off, the GJ was telling the DA to piss off. Now he cares about what they feel thus why I doubt he will push anymore. He might have even 'tanked' the GJ to get this very outcome. I have no clue
what his intent was but the fact that he could not get a criminal indictment doesn't mean anything about a potential administrative action.
Yes the DA and TABC worked together on the investigation but that doesn't mean that they had the same intended outcome. Since TABC procedures don't involve GJ or even judicial actions certainly limits any humiliation for TABC.
As to will TABC chose to proceed administratively, I have multiple times said I don't know. Because if one doesn't know what TABC wants to happen you can't know what they will do. I have presented multiple possibilites where TABC doesn't proceed.
What I will say is that IF TABC decides to pursue adminstrative action against the Lodge, I would put the chances of getting the license pulled at way over 90%. The odds they "win" before the ALJ over 80% but "win" needs to be defined. By "win" i mean they get the ALJ to issue a PFD supporting their position. Now if implemented would the PFD hold up opon appeal to district judge? That is the real question.
The point is the Grand Jury and an ALJ have vastly different roles. The Grand Jury effectively said that while the activity might be a gray area of the law, no one should be in jail for this. They can simply choose to ignore the letter of the law. The TABC might even agree with this.
But at the same time an ALJ in a hearing or District Judge on appeal, doesn't have this flexibility. They must rule on the issues of the law even if they don't like or agree with the law.
Ofc Lodge would have many other avenues of appeal. So I don't expect any final determination for quite some time and that presumes TABC continues to push with this case. But while a criminal indictment would have been stronger for TABC (a de facto win) but nothing that has happened so far limits what TABC can achieve. But what they want I am not even willing to guess.
DA likely thought he would spend the resources to fight one case first to get a win and establish case law before going after everyone else.
DA doesn’t have jurisdiction to go after all the other poker rooms.
As to the GJ telling them to piss off, the GJ was telling the DA to piss off. Now he cares about what they feel thus why I doubt he will push anymore. He might have even 'tanked' the GJ to get this very outcome. I have no clue
what his intent was but the fact that he could not get a criminal indictment doesn't mean anything about a potential administrative action.
I thought DA's were focused on their win rates. Why try to bring charges and then purposely tank it. Explain to me like I'm a 6-year old
I thought DA's were focused on their win rates. Why try to bring charges and then purposely tank it. Explain to me like I'm a 6-year old
I was on a grand jury and the prosecutors definitely basically told us to no-bill one of the cases. So if the DA thought TABC was way out over their skis on this, that can definitely happen. They definitely don't want to lose if they actually take it to court.
I thought DA's were focused on their win rates. Why try to bring charges and then purposely tank it. Explain to me like I'm a 6-year old
You have two competing consituencies. The general public who are pro poker or at least don't see a problem with it criminally and those who want rooms completely s/d and are very vocal and active.
You agree with the majority and want to leave them alone. But if you don't go after the rooms the smaller group is going to continue raising the issue and might even mark you for a take down compaign. So what can you do?
Well you take a case and then 'tank it' in the grand jury. So you can say you tried to take them down but the people (GJ) chose to let them remain. You are now largely immunized from any vocal minority should they try to use the issue and target you.
Let's you say you are anti gambling (whether you are or not) while allowing the rooms to operate and make the majority happy (or continue indifferent) and collecting the associated tax revenue.
That is just one of several scenarios.
And it turns out THAT WASN'T "exactly what happened". Neither you or the TABC produced any evidence that the Lodge wasn't following regulations or that it was "money laundering". My point, going back months, is that you didn't know what you were talking about. No one ever demonstrated they weren't filing SARs or CTRs, you just assumed they weren't.
I think you are narrowing the
Geesh, just take the L and move on.
You were up in here boasting about your prediction and crowing from the rooftops about how you called it.
If you’re going to do that prematurely, you have to be prepared to be wrong.
Not the end of the world and I’m sure you’re a smart person. You just got a little ahead of yourself.
Let it go.
Geesh, just take the L and move on.
You were up in here boasting about your prediction and crowing from the rooftops about how you called it.
If you're going to do that prematurely, you have to be prepared to be wrong.
Not the end of the world and I'm sure you're a smart person. You just got a little ahead of yourself.
Let it go.
Win graciously. His post was 3 days ago. He let it go.
Let’s not speculate until they actually reopen…….it will be good if they do reopen……..the competition with TCH is overall very good for the poker community…..furthermore…….i would like to extract my money out of my box as fast as i can like everyone else!
They have stated publicly they are re-opening and have put out a call for additional staff as well (since some of their staff had moved out of the area or taken other jobs).
Your comment sounds like you don't believe they will reopen?
Reopening date announced. May 26, the Tuesday after Memorial Day.
Doug stated the money and equipment that was seized will all be returned and that they're trying to do a grand reopening within the next few weeks if possible
I don't believe that for one second, don't play me for a fool do you hear me?
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...won't get fooled again!
Reopening date announced. May 26, the Tuesday after Memorial Day.
This is good news. I hope everything works out well for Doug and all of The Lodge.
You don't believe the money and assets will be returned or you don't believe they'll re-open on the 26th?
Looks like they’re intentionally opening on a soft day. I assume Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday traffic will be mostly people accessing their boxes or cashing chips.
Looks like they’re intentionally opening on a soft day. I assume Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday traffic will be mostly people accessing their boxes or cashing chips.
The info I've been given is that Tuesday has history for them. Their Tuesday night tournament used to be a MASSIVE event in the market
I can't disagree that the term "freeroll" has been bastardized here in TX. Back in the day I'd play the Wednesday night PLO Freeroll and I'd typically max late-reg and spend $245 for all the chips.
That being said, a 50K Guarantee on a Tuesday night is pretty huge and you can get in for only $30. It's not like The Lodge hasn't had big overlays in the past and paid up across multiple tournaments.
Whether this one will overlay or not remains to be seen. Tuesday night used to be huge for their tournament scene and I expect with that being their grand re-opening they'll see solid traffic for it.
Nice to see this had a positive outcome, wish them the best going forward.
