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
Just started a separate thread for practical help/resources for displaced Lodge employees:
Lodge staff resource thread - job leads,...
Figured the main thread is naturally going to stay focused on the news/debate, so wanted one place for job leads, remote openings, unemployment info, food/utilities/clothing resources, etc.
If you know someone from the Lodge, feel free to send it to them.
I'm pretty sure modeling any legislation changes to mimic California laws regarding card rooms would be more appropriate than Florida laws.
Why would Polk and company opt to open a room in Texas, anyway They have some of the strictest gambling laws in the nation.
because there was a massive amount of money to be made before the whole shythouse went up in flames. its all a cost benefit analysis. if the players dont get paid the costs will massively outweigh the benefits though because all of the owners will have burnt their "good guy" brands to the ground and these brands were making them millions and they are fairly young and VERY ONLINE guys unlike johnny chan.
Doug got way too comfortable in a legal gray area. Literally the same exact mistake made by FTP.
I'm pretty sure modeling any legislation changes to mimic California laws regarding card rooms would be more appropriate than Florida laws.
Why would Polk and company opt to open a room in Texas, anyway They have some of the strictest gambling laws in the nation.
They did not open a room. They bought into established room followed by some expansion.
Ok, the question still stands. With all their money and clout, Polk et al could have bought an existing room, or opened their own room, in a more card room friendly state.
Ok, the question still stands. With all their money and clout, Polk et al could have bought an existing room, or opened their own room, in a more card room friendly state.
Where do you feel would have been viable?
THIS is the guy responsible for the shutdown. We need a "Don't Re-Elect A Dick" campaign with matching t-shirts
According to Highroll Poker tracker Polk was a losing player at most venues, except for the Lodge, where he was a massive winner.
Did he have access to information in the same way Robbi Jade Lew was accused of having? Like Robbi Jade Lew he's social and not easily bluffable. I think both are top tier poker players and I think it would be a stretch to say that they were both cheating.
Did #codedoug get clubwptgold shut down? It's not letting me log in on mobile,desktop or app...
As discussed done on redit will be interesting to see if TCH RR stays open.
But assuming Lodge doesn’t fight it, which is not said in the statement, there will still not be a binding case and def nothing state wide. Though TABC could decide to try and push things administratively.
TCH is not in Round Rock. It’s within Austin city limits, Travis county.
According to Highroll Poker tracker Polk was a losing player at most venues, except for the Lodge, where he was a massive winner. Did he have access to information in the same way Robbi Jade Lew was accused of having? Like Robbi Jade Lew he's social and not easily bluffable. I think both are top tier poker players and I think it would be a stretch to say that they were both che
Did you just say Robbi Jade Lew is a "top tier poker player"? Where is the damned #BanHammer ????
Well, if I were in the market, I would consider looking at the laws of other states before settling on one of the most gambling restrictive states.
But since I’m not currently in the market of opening and/or buying a piece of a card room, I don’t really know the law of all 50 states.
But I know Texas is one of the worst.
I would assume Utah is also right up there with Texas.
So off the top of my head, maybe any of the other 48 states?
I like Doug think hes good for poker
but like mentioned above FTP
I really think its these streams /shows showing degens with stacks of 1mill and gambling and rebuying (in a grey area) its like rubbing peoples noses in it and it just draws attention to the whole thing and then the law have to act
I like Doug think hes good for poker
but like mentioned above FTP
I really think its these streams /shows showing degens with stacks of 1mill and gambling and rebuying (in a grey area) its like rubbing peoples noses in it and it just draws attention to the whole thing and then the law have to act
People flying out from all over the world. Social media influencers investing.
They were begging to be made an example.
Well, if I were in the market, I would consider looking at the laws of other states before settling on one of the most gambling restrictive states.But since I'm not currently in the market of opening and/or buying a piece of a card room, I don't really know the law of all 50 states.But I know Texas is one of the worst.I would assume Utah is also right up there with Texas.So off
Pure speculation here, but I assume Doug chose Texas/Lodge because of the situation in Texas and relative small capital involved. In any state that either allows gambling or poker and is not in a gray area, most have competition from major players/casinos etc.. and would likely require a substantial amount more of capital for either setting up a brand new poker room or are owned by a large corporation that he is unable to invest in/be a part of.
There is no Caesar's Houston as Caesar's doesn't mess with gray areas for example.
Doug is very smart, very creative, and has been a big net benefit for poker. Others are correct that he pushed it too far in Texas, but he sure was making a success of things at the Lodge.
Limon is right that he’ll have to make the players whole to survive with his reputation intact. If he does that, though, I think he’ll emerge just fine and I hope that he will look to open in states/markets that are more open to gambling. The New Hampshire poker market may be oversaturated now, and is probably too small for his ambitions, but it’s an example of the kind of situation where if Doug got in early he could probably build something really successful.
I think he should invest his considerable resources and his considerable political skills in identifying potential markets and then lobbying for a legal framework that will allow him to operate in them within the law. I remember he posted a few years ago asking about the New England market. We’d certainly welcome him here, and there are probably other areas of the country that would, too. Texas may be stuck in its moralistic history but the rest of the country has gambling (tax revenue) fever.
Doug will be fine. It does suck that, as usual, it’s the working people who will be left holding the bag and trying to find new jobs, but it’s worth noting that at least some of those jobs were created in the first place by Doug’s hard work and investments that allowed the Lodge to grow.
Ok, the question still stands. With all their money and clout, Polk et al could have bought an existing room, or opened their own room, in a more card room friendly state.
Greed!
And the ego boost of being the one that brought (legal) poker to Texas.
When you think you're the smartest person in the room, it can lead to over-confidence which begets sloppy/lazy behavior. Polk, et al., thought they had a loophole. They were running an angle on TX law. But forgot that legal/political matters move at a snail's pace. And quite possibly forgot to make some key political contributions, as well.
When you flagrantly skirt the law, and advertise it on billboards, you're going to get attention.
They made a lot of money and had a lot of fun during the F Around period. Now that the Find Out phase has begun its interesting to see them adopt the victim role.
Limon is right that he’ll have to make the players whole to survive with his reputation intact. If he does that, though, I think he’ll emerge just fine and I hope that he will look to open in states/markets that are more open to gambling. The New Hampshire poker market may be oversaturated now, and is probably too small for his ambitions, but it’s an example o
The 35% off the top to charity has to be a huge hurdle for a smaller operator in New Hampshire. You can make it work, as others have, and you can even spin it in to positive, feel good PR, but when looking at bottom line I can see why other states would make more sense.
because there was a massive amount of money to be made before the whole shythouse went up in flames. its all a cost benefit analysis. if the players dont get paid the costs will massively outweigh the benefits though because all of the owners will have burnt their "good guy" brands to the ground and these brands were making them millions and they are fairly young and VERY ONLIN
Is Good Guy Doug offering severance packages for the staff? Can anyone confirm or deny?
Is Good Guy Doug offering severance packages for the staff? Can anyone confirm or deny?
I think that this issue is actually pretty simple. If employees were led to believe by their employer that things were legal and the corporate veil was pierced, the owners could be personally liable regardless of bankruptcy or clever attempts to shift assets. Many attorneys would jump at this option given the publicity.
I cannot imagine them offering less than 6+ months of severance to avoid liability and at the very least steep legal fees even if they prevailed. And more if they were "tip-based" jobs.
Being quiet could very well result in a class action, regardless of the merits given all the ambiguities.
I'm wondering what kind of lawyers they have. Smarter attorneys would have demanded Doug retract his tweets, be quiet and settle yesterday.
My guess would be that all employees will receive a somewhat generous severance with an NDA within 48 hours and less than 10% will renegotiate those settlements. Of course there's the possibility that they shoot themselves in the foot and offer less to their own peril. Never underestimate stupidity.
If Doug was worth 3MM and walks away with 1MM he should consider himself somewhat lucky. He's got endless energy and will do just find after this hiccup. Others don't have his charisma.
I think that this issue is actually pretty simple. If employees were led to believe by their employer that things were legal and the corporate veil was pierced, the owners would be personally liable regardless of bankruptcy. Many attorneys would jump at this option given the publicity. I cannot imagine them offering less than 6+ months of severance to avoid liability and at the
There is probably $5-$10 million in unpaid players funds. If you think doug is going to pay that then youre insane. Not only can doug not afford it, it would be illegal for him to continue business operations, which paying customers is a part of without a court order.
The 35% off the top to charity has to be a huge hurdle for a smaller operator in New Hampshire. You can make it work, as others have, and you can even spin it in to positive, feel good PR, but when looking at bottom line I can see why other states would make more sense.
Yes, I agree with this point. I don't think NH is realistic for Doug, just meant it as an example of a market that didn't have poker 20 or so years ago and now it's everywhere. I agree with you that other states would probably make more sense today.
I think that this issue is actually pretty simple. If employees were led to believe by their employer that things were legal and the corporate veil was pierced, the owners could be personally liable regardless of bankruptcy or clever attempts to shift assets. Many attorneys would jump at this option given the publicity. I cannot imagine them offering less than 6+ months of seve
This is exactly where I was going with this...
Yup, I met a poker dealer in real life that relocated their entire family to Texas to deal in that room.
Doug's good guy image is ruined if he doesn't offer at least 6+ months.
Not 6 months at $3 an hour either, but 6 months at the $40 an hour average these employees would have been making.
I think that this issue is actually pretty simple. If employees were led to believe by their employer that things were legal and the corporate veil was pierced, the owners could be personally liable regardless of bankruptcy or clever attempts to shift assets. Many attorneys would jump at this option given the publicity. I cannot imagine them offering less than 6+ months of seve
Settle for what exactly? These employees aren't in trouble and what would the lodge actually owe them besides the last week or two of pay? And that is a very small amount of money bc they mostly work for tips.
I'm not trying to argue with you, I'm honestly curious.
I'll also take way over on 3mm.
Settle for what exactly? These employees aren't in trouble and what would the lodge actually owe them besides the last week or two of pay? And that is a very small amount of money bc they mostly work for tips.
I'm not trying to argue with you, I'm honestly curious.
I'll also take way over on 3mm.
Settle so they don't sue to avoid risk. The actual loss of wages and/or alternative career options is irrelevant.
