Four Arrested After Katy Poker Raid as Harris County Signals More Action
Investigators allege the Katy Freeway cardroom took rakes from pots, a practice authorities say falls outside Texas poker clubs’ usual fee model.
- Harris County deputies raided Katy Poker on Nov. 12 after a yearlong investigation into alleged rake collection.
- Four people connected to the club’s operation were arrested, while customers were escorted out without accusations of wrongdoing.
- Authorities were considering organized-criminal-activity and money-laundering charges while reviewing bank records.
- The raid was the county’s second poker-room enforcement action in three weeks, and prosecutors said further actions were expected.
Four people were arrested after Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies executed a search warrant at Katy Poker, a social club at 24445 Katy Freeway, on Nov. 12. Investigators alleged the room had operated an illegal gambling business by taking a percentage from poker pots, commonly called a rake, following an investigation that had run for about a year.
The arrests concerned people involved in running the club, including workers in roles such as doorman, dealer and money-room employee, authorities said. Customers were escorted out and were not accused of wrongdoing. The suspects’ names had not been released, and the investigation remained open.
The four people were expected to face engaging-in-organized-criminal-activity charges, with money-laundering charges also under consideration. Investigators planned to trace bank accounts and review financial records to establish how much money the operation took in and whether it was connected to other criminal activity.
District Attorney Sean Teare said the action was part of a countywide effort involving several agencies and that more enforcement announcements involving alleged illegal poker operations were expected. Officials also argued that illegal rooms can attract or finance crimes including robberies, auto theft, narcotics activity and human trafficking.
The central allegation is the rake. Texas private poker clubs commonly use membership fees, hourly seat rentals, food and beverage sales rather than taking a share of a pot. The legal position of commercial membership-based rooms remains contested, but the Texas Penal Code defense described in the Texas Bar Blog requires, among other conditions, that nobody receive an economic benefit beyond personal winnings and that players have equal chances apart from skill or luck.
Katy Poker’s social-media account said the business had operated since August 2024. The raid was Harris County’s second poker-room enforcement action in three weeks, following the Oct. 22 action against nearby 101 Poker Club, as we reported; Teare said venues accused of similar conduct would not be allowed to reopen easily.
Harris County has previously pursued organized-criminal-activity and money-laundering allegations against poker-club operators. In 2019, cases against owners and operators of Prime Social Poker Club and Post Oak Poker Club were dismissed 69 days after charges began, with more than $200,000 in seized gambling proceeds subject to return.
