Legal Poker In Houston

Some of you may remember me from the "Poker Socials" I use to put on. I have played all over Houston for a number of years and wanted to give a brief run down of the so called "legal" poker scene in Houston.

About 4-5 years ago in Austin someone came up with the idea of legal poker by making it a private club. So they charged membership fees and per hour charges and charged for food and drink. No rake. They survived court challenges and are still open. Fast forward to this year when Mint Poker out in League City opened using the same format. Then when Moes for Steaks on Post Oak in the Galleria area a new group moved in. Same format. Membership fee and a daily fee and chair rental. The police has shown absolutely no interest in doing anything. Not even a visit to make sure everything is legal as far as I can tell. After a wait and see period other games have started to open up and the long time underground poker rooms in Houston have started to close or switch over. Here is the run down of the places I have been.

Post Oak Poker - The first in Houston and a very nice location. The people running the place and a lot of the dealers came from some of the biggest underground games such as the Stoner Game, Top Hat, The Dark Room and Moose Palace. The club is run by people who how to run a game which is a big help. I know most of them from games I have played in.

As for the place, the parking is tight and they have put in valet parking at an outrageous $8.00. Because there are other merchants in the square they had to change their open time from 2:00 to 4:00 because all the parking was taken up by players and the other merchants were complaining.

The food is good is a bit over priced and the waitress are way below average. Twice I have ordered meals and never received them as the girl took the order and then clocked out and left. I will say that after complaining the management I was comped a meal.

The players are a mix of sharks and fish. Older white guys, Asian guys and black guys. Some very good players and some that are really bad. Biggest win night for me has been $1,825 on a 1-3 game. I would say my win percentage is 80%. On 10 visits I cash out a winner 8 times. I stay away from 5-5 and PLO because you need to sit down with about $2,000+ and have the same amount in your pocket. I like to sit down with $300.

Lion Poker Palace - This is on Richmond just past Dave and Busters. Again like Post Oak run by guys who use to run some of the very best underground games so they run a very professional place. Great food menu plus there is another restaurant in the center you can order from. Excellent wait-staff. Food is mostly Middle-East.

The players here are serious players. Mostly white and middle-east. Not many fish but they do allow to run it twice. Free valet parking so you can tip what you like. Solid poker with solid serious players.

Once you buy a membership there does not appear to be a per day fee. Time cards are the same $7.50 as post oak

Prime Social Club - Out Westheimer just past Hilcroft, across from Barnes and Noble and Tan Tan. Free valet parking. $10 to join and $10 per day to play. $8.00 time cards except here they are time chips.

Club is mostly Asian players who can be very aggressive. After a huge opening night that saw the place jammed with partiers the action dropped a lot the second night as they struggled to fill 4 tables while the other locations regularly have 8.

The players are mostly older while and Asian. The 5-5 Omaha gets out of control. Bring about $8,000 with you. They are trying to be a club and a poker room but not sure how successful they will be. Beautiful place though.

The Dark Room which was off I-10 has moved to the Beltway next to the toll road office. Calls themselves Westside now. Have not been there but I expect it to be the same as the others.

If you like tournaments all of the locations are holding big tournaments to generate interest. Prime is having a $20,000 with $10,000 to the winner tournament.

If anyone has visited any of the other locations and wish to post something please do.

Thanks for the reviews of these places. I've been out of the poker loop for a few years. I was wondering about a couple of the places you mentioned. I first found Post Oak Poker Club by mistake when I took a wrong turn into their parking lot. It is quite small as you've said.

I was wondering if you knew anything about Mint. It's closer to me, but I have heard some not so great things about the guy that runs it. Only heard positive things from one person about that place, but she was only visiting from out of town and had been there only once for a short session.

I'm a degenerate, but I really miss playing 3/6/12 "no-fold 'em" limit games at old VIP back in the day off 45s. Especially on Fri/Sat nights or when the bad beat jackpot was high. Loose players + free beer + players that just got their paycheck = lots of fun!! Lol

What is the structure and level of play like at some of these tournaments?

I believe the old VIP group has a legal game. Not sure where

I will say the dealers at Lion are the most professional. Most at Post Oak come across as knowing what they see doing. Only one girl that i know at Prime appeared to have dealt before

Thank you, BigLouie, for a very informative thread.

Never could play poker, always more interested in "poke her" and very much enjoyed socializing at your events in the back when.

Great to see you still enjoying your avocation and even better to know its both enjoyable and profitable for you.

Stay safe and healthy, shipmate!

It is always best to understand the laws pertaining to "gambling" in the state of Texas.
If you run a game and cut the pot for yourself, you are in violation of the law.
If you do not take any of the money from the gambling and all is kept among the players, you have no worries.

It is not much different than a football pool where you buy squares. As long as all of the money goes to the participants and you do not take a cut, it is not illegal. Sell a thousand bucks of squares and pay out 900 and you are in violation of the law.

It is really fairly simple.

Update. Post Oak Poker Club has repositioned the tables after a lot of complaining about the main room being cramped. Talked with one of the owners and he said the club will stay open until late fall.

Legion just put up a big sign right next to big Texas.

Update. Post Oak Poker Club is now on the app Poker Atlas

I played at Post Oak very recently. Very nice setup and capable dealers. I saw the typical players for this area..lots of gambool, lol. It was a good time but I didn't get out drawn, thankfully.

Yes the players at Post Oak like to get it in and gamble. You can make good money there.

BigLouie,

PM me your #. Been trying to send you mine, but your inbox is full.

Yes, I'm back in town.

KR

Thanks for this post. I love poker but haven’t played much since hurricane Harvey. I’ll put in my own reviews of Mint Poker in League City and VIP Poker off Edgebrook and 45 if I have time.

I just moved to the 290 area. Anyone know a good spot in that area please PM me. Private or legal I’m just looking for a convienient place to play not too far from home.

Westside Poker is a legal place on Beltway 8 next to the EZ Tag office. You can Google their web page