Yep, and they say it is legal. Texas and local officials are okay with the card room opening. Several other cities in Texas have also launched similar card rooms. So far, Austin, San Antonio and Houston are currently playing. Tyler launched just after Christmas.
The card rooms do not take a rake, the dealers are not allowed to take a tip as customary in regular casinos, no alcohol or food served in the venue, and no smoking. Players submit a brief personal history about themselves which includes driver's license number. In order to play, you have to join the Tilt Poker Club with a dues structure that is by the day, week or year. Also, while playing you have to rent a seat at a $7 hourly rate. Tables offer tournament play on certain days, and cash games are played everyday. Full security with cameras records all activity within the card room playing area.
As most of you know, gambling is illegal in Texas and there are no legal casinos except the one Indian casino located at Eagle Pass near El Paso. Texas law allows gambling as long as the players are not wagering against the house and the house does not take a rake. Card games like Texas Holdem' and Omaha are allowed because of the above structure outlined above about no rakes or tips. It will be interesting to see if all the border-states casinos balk (Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Colorado) since all cater pretty heavily on Texas patrons. Electronic games -- like video poker and slot machines -- are not allowed. Their chips are individual to each independently run card room.
Should these card rooms be included in the Chip Guide and catalogued as a part of gaming history? So far, there has been a very positive outcome for the one here in Tyler. The images shown below are taken from today's front page of Sunday's Tyler Morning Telegraph with permission.