The Texas Supreme Court rejected the city’s attempt to revoke Texas Card House’s (TCH) permit
A Texas poker club has emerged victorious after a lengthy legal fight with the city of Dallas. The Texas Supreme Court ruled against the city’s attempt to revoke Texas Card House’s (TCH) operating permit, bringing an end to a three-year battle that cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The case began after TCH was granted approval in 2020 to operate as a private poker club. That approval was withdrawn in 2022 by city building official Andrew Espinoza, who argued the Certificate of Occupancy was issued in error.
TCH appealed to the city’s Board of Adjustment, which sided with the club, only for Espinoza to take the matter back to court. The dispute wound its way through the legal system until the state’s highest court refused Espinoza’s final appeal last week.
Ryan Crow, the owner of TCH, said the ruling marks the likely end of the dispute, allowing his Dallas location to continue business without fear of closure. The case was significant not only for TCH but also for the broader Texas poker community, where legal interpretations of poker rooms have long been contested.
Under Texas law, gambling is generally prohibited, but a carve-out in Penal Code 47.04 allows games where the house does not profit directly from play. Card rooms such as TCH operate under this model by charging membership and seat fees instead of collecting rake. Still, the legality of such operations has been challenged by officials across the state who interpret the law more narrowly.
TCH received support from competitors as well, with attorneys from The Lodge Card Club near Austin filing an amicus brief backing the right to operate poker rooms. For now, the ruling secures TCH’s place in Dallas, where it has continued to operate despite the city’s opposition, and could set an important precedent for other clubs in Texas.
