Texas is one of the top locations in the United States for poker players to visit. With more than 50 individual poker rooms, players have plenty of locations to choose from in cities like Dallas, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Corpus Christi.
Because of current gambling laws in the state of Texas, card rooms must meet specific criteria to maintain the legality of their games.
Texas law requires that gameplay occurs in a private setting like a private club or social club. Clubs cannot profit from gambling itself, so players pay for admission or membership fees. Texas poker rooms must also ensure that all players have the same chance of winning.
Texas has a long-standing relationship with poker. That fact is reflected in the ultra-popular poker variation Texas Holdem, which was invented in Robstown, Texas. So here are some of the best poker rooms to check out on your next trip to the Lonestar State.
Small poker rooms in Texas
If you prefer a quiet and more intimate card game experience, then a small poker room is the perfect setting for your next game night. With fewer than 15 tables, each of the following poker clubs has plenty to offer serious poker players looking for a private place to play some live poker.
101 Poker Club
With 12 poker tables, cocktail service, and a full dining menu, 101 Poker Club in Katy is a fantastic place to play a few hands. This poker room serves up daily Texas Holdem poker tournaments, raffles, cash giveaways, and periodic freeze out events, so each day of the week brings a little something different in this small yet popular poker room.
If you’re in West Houston and are seeking cash games in a spacious, inviting poker room, head over to 20900 Katy Freeway and visit 101 Poker Club! Make sure to check out their player appreciation events for a chance to win big.
Kojack’s Poker Club
A small club with plenty of amenities, Kojack’s Poker Club offers daily and monthly memberships to players. Located at 3205 West Cuthbert Ave. in Midland, this 8-table club hosts all your favorite poker games from Holdem and Omaha to Crazy Pineapple and 2-to-7 Triple Draw.
Your membership fee includes non-alcoholic beverages, but if you prefer to play with a drink in your hand, BYOB is always an option.
When you want to take a break from the poker tables, check out their billiards tables, chess boards, and big screen TVs for some live sports and pay-per-view entertainment.
Gin Mill Card Club
The ever-popular Gin Mill Card Club provides players with two locations for poker tournaments and one-off games. The original Lubbock, Texas location, at 4142 19th St., is an intimate operation with four tables. Their second location features 13 tables and you can find it at 803 E Nasa Parkway in Webster.
Both locations prioritize an elevated player experience, with a clean, inviting atmosphere. Membership fees are affordable and new members are eligible to play the same day they sign up.
Take advantage of No-limit-holdem tournaments, deep-stack events, and more at Gin Mill Card Club.
Large poker rooms in Texas
Between the amenities, the quantity of ongoing cash games, and the ability to kick back and watch sports, grab a drink, or just hang out with friends, large poker rooms have a special appeal. Everything is bigger in Texas, and if you prefer a large poker room with 15 to 30 or more tables, you definitely need to check out these poker clubs.
The Lodge Card Club
The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock is the largest poker room in the state and is open 24/7 to accommodate its members. With 82 tables and plush rolling chairs, it’s easy to settle in for a marathon poker session at The Lodge.
This card club offers week-long, month-long, and annual memberships. Because this poker room is so popular, players should plan to register online in advance or sign up for a waiting list either in person or on the Poker Atlas app.
Guaranteed jackpots above $10,000 are a regular occurrence at The Lodge, so travel to 1401 S Interstate 35 in Round Rock to get in on the action.
Spades Poker House
One of the newer Texas poker rooms worth checking out is the Spades Poker House in Webster. With 17 tables, cocktail service, and a full kitchen menu, players can choose between frequent guaranteed prize tournaments and ongoing cash games of Omaha and hold’em with buy-ins from $100 to $1,000.
Spades Poker House regularly puts on notable promotions, like discounted happy hour entry, and there’s always an exciting tournament on the schedule. Be sure to check out their Poker Atlas listing for updates and events.
When you’re ready to check out their offerings, you can find them at 20798 Gulf Freeway in Webster.
Prime Social
If you’re hunting for a sophisticated poker-playing experience, you have to check out Prime Social at 7801 Westheimer Road in Houston. Placing more emphasis on design and appearance than many of its competitors, Prime Social feels more like a traditional casino experience.
Daily live games include ultra-low-buy-in no-limit holdem, pot limit Omaha, Limit Holdem, and Omaha 8-or-better. If you prefer a tournament experience, they have multiple events each month with guaranteed pots of $20,000 and more.
While you’re waiting for your next table to open up at one of their 23 tables, you can visit the bar or restaurant. You can also head into the gaming lounge for backgammon, chess, and cribbage.
Texas Card House Dallas
Texas Card House Dallas is one of four great poker houses in the Texas Card House Brand. Offering daily, monthly, and yearly memberships, this 26-table poker room has plenty of variety to offer.
Between the daily tournaments and regular cash games, players have many opportunities to take home some serious winnings. Some tournaments even deliver jackpot prizes and exciting giveaways like cruise vacations.
If you want to check out Texas Card House Dallas before visiting, take advantage of their live streamed games on YouTube.
Texas Card House Dallas is located at 11834 Harry Hines Blvd. and is open for business 24 hours a day.
Poker House Dallas
Amenities and player comfort take priority at Poker House Dallas. This 30-table poker room exists as a standalone location with plenty of parking, security, and privacy. Whether you spend time in the outdoor patio lounge, the VIP enclave, or the High Stakes room with an integrated cafe, you’ll feel right at home.
Popular events and promotions include a new player-referral drawing with a cash prize, daily tournaments, and eight different cash games. Take advantage of the customer-focused valet service, shuttle service, and BYOB.
Stop by 1616 Regal Row in Dallas for a unique take on the Texas poker room experience.
Up-and-coming Texas poker rooms
More and more Texas poker rooms are popping up across the state to take advantage of the clear-cut state laws on gambling. If you’re hoping to become a regular at a new poker club in your area, you should check out these spots.
52 Social
Promising “the thrill of Las Vegas in Austin,” 52 Social is an exciting new addition to the Texas poker scene. An in-house fine dining restaurant, VIP hosting and concierge service, and stocked top-shelf cocktail bar complement their large offering of 26 tables to ensure players can find exactly what they need.
Daily, monthly, and yearly memberships cost about half as much as other large Texas poker rooms, so players looking for a new favorite card room should definitely take a drive to 2400 S Interstate 35 Frontage Road in Round Rock, and check it out.
Take a peek at their Poker Atlas listing for updated promotions and a calendar of upcoming events.
Shuffle 214
With BYOB service, 31 tables, and tableside massage, Shuffle 214 focuses on keeping dedicated poker players comfortable during cash games and tournaments.
Striving for simplicity and convenience, Shuffle 214 uses a state-of-the-art member card system through the Poker Atlas platform. Each member card tracks gameplay time at the tables to ensure you only pay for the time when you’re actively playing. If you plan to make a day of it, check out their prepaid bulk game time specials.
Shuffle 214 is located at 11411 E Northwest Highway in Dallas, so be sure and give it a try next time you're in the city of Dallas.
Conclusion
Whether you prefer tournament play in a no-nonsense atmosphere or you like to indulge in some Las Vegas-style sophistication and flair at cash tables, or some Atlantic City poker room action, there are plenty of exciting poker rooms to choose from in Texas.
From fine dining and table-side massage, to live streamed final tables and player lounges, these poker rooms have it all. If you’re not sure exactly what amenities you prefer, getting a daily or monthly membership at any of these clubs is an inexpensive way to explore your options.
Remember that each of these poker rooms has its own specific set of rules and regulations for maintaining their good standing with the Texas poker laws. Be sure and check out each club’s website for FAQs, schedules, and player rules before you visit. No matter where you go, Texas poker rooms are a unique and exciting experience for any poker player.
Best Texas poker rooms FAQs
Does Houston have poker rooms?
Yes, there are poker rooms in Houston, Texas. In fact, there are ten poker rooms that you can legally play at in Houston – Champions Club, Elite Social Club, Empire Poker Club, Legends Poker Room, Offsuit Poker Lounge, Paramount Social Club, Prime Social Poker Club, River Room Social Club, Star’s Poker Club, and Texas Card House.
Are poker rooms legal in Texas?
Yes, poker rooms are legal in Texas. However, the key requirement for legal games in the state of Texas is that the only economic beneficiary of wagering can be the winner. In other words, clubs and poker rooms cannot financially benefit from the games. What’s more, poker games in Texas must take place in private settings, like social rooms and specific card rooms.
How many poker clubs are in Houston?
There are ten poker clubs in Houston, as introduced above. In the state of Texas more widely, there are more than 50 individual poker rooms. This alone makes Texas one of the best states in the United States to enjoy real-money poker games, which is great news if you’re a native of the Lone Star State!
Is Texas good for poker?
Yes, Texas is a great state for poker. There are more than 50 legal poker rooms in the state that take place at social clubs and card venues. You can find poker rooms across the state, from Houston to Katy. There are so many poker variants available in Texas, too, with pot limit Omaha games and of course, more Texas Hold’em games than you can imagine!
Featured image source: Facebook via Spades Poker House
