Four co-owners of the Top Shelf Poker Room in Flint, Texas, have pled guilty to gambling-related misdemeanors following a raid by Smith County authorities in March 2022. The individuals—Labryce Carnell Duncan, Paul Lee Stewart, Todd Andrew Rowell, and Jesse Dwayne Vann—each pleaded guilty to a single Class C misdemeanor of gambling in connection with their operation of the poker room. As part of the plea agreement, the co-owners will each face a fine of up to $500.
The raid came after several months of investigation, which included undercover officers playing in the poker room. The Top Shelf Poker Room had been operating for five years prior to the raid. The four men were arrested in May 2022.
Charges Dropped, Plea Deal Reached
Under the plea deal, the more serious charges of promoting gambling, which could have carried penalties including up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000, were dropped. The co-owners were initially believed to be adhering to Texas gambling laws by generating revenue through membership and seat fees rather than directly taking a rake from the poker pots. The only rake taken was described as a “promotional” rake, which was returned to players through things like high-hand or bad-beat jackpots.
One of the co-owners, Duncan, also admitted to generating significant revenue from an ATM located on the premises, which was available for use by the players.
Impact and Context
The case highlights the gray areas in gambling regulation, particularly in Texas, where the legality of certain gambling operations often falls into murky territory. The Top Shelf Poker Room’s business model, which involved charging for membership and seating fees, was likely intended to comply with Texas gambling laws. However, the presence of promotional rake and the revenue from the ATM led to legal complications. The plea deal brings a close to this legal chapter for the four co-owners, although the controversy surrounding unregulated poker rooms in the state continues.
