At least nine poker rooms operate in Houston, including the Post Oak Poker Club, open 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Under Texas law, a gambling operation like Post Oak is illegal, but Bill Heuer, business partner of owner Daniel Kebort , said, “We just believe that what we are doing is the right thing. We’re doing everything on the up and up. We’re just facilitating the play between the players.”
Kebort added, “Within the language of the law, it creates for a very narrow path for a business like ours to be able to operate. You could define it as the razor’s edge.” That’s exactly how Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg described Post Oak. “I think those guys and gals understand they are riding the razor’s edge, and if there are illegal operations happening, then they could be under investigation. I think that is what I am at liberty to say right now,” Ogg said. She noted nearly two people recently were arrested in a Chinatown gambling sting.
Post Oak charges admission and hourly fees and sell food, which distinguishes the operation from other gambling operations in the state. Kebort said the poker room generates about $350,000 in monthly revenue.
Heuer and Kebort are awaiting a determination by state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office regarding poker rooms and Texas law. Meanwhile, lawyers for Tilman Fertitta, owner of Landry’s and Golden Nugget casinos, filed a legal brief to Paxton, stating, “Poker rooms violate Texas law and are illegal.” Several others have filed briefs opposing poker rooms.
