West of downtown Houston, Champions Club Texas operates as a boutique hotel and private social club in a remodeled Hampton Inn. Members enjoy upscale accommodations, dining and bar service, and the chance to play private poker games in a country club-like setting. The club’s success inspired ownership to expand into their new hometown—the business-friendly city of Dallas.
That expansion, however, hit a roadblock. After purchasing and renovating the storied III Forks property for $15 million with plans to open a poker-focused private club, city officials shut the venture down. While the Houston location continues to thrive, the Dallas project has left owners locked in an existential battle with regulators.
Champions Club Texas is owned and operated by a group of investors that include Roy Choi and Isaac Trumbo who also hold leadership roles together at private equity firm Knighted Ventures. In Houston, the club regularly hosts major poker tournaments, including its latest main event, which drew 849 participants and paid out more than $1 million in prize money. The winner took home $181,000, while the runner-up walked away with $161,000.