Although full-blown casinos aren’t permitted in Houston under Texan law, you can still hit the town for a night out gambling at one of the fantastic poker rooms in the city.
Due to a gray area in gambling legislation, these private clubs can operate legally in the state. They typically require a membership fee or charge seat fees to cover operating costs, as they cannot take a rake from games to comply with the law.
So, what can you expect from these popular clubs? How much do they charge, and is it worth it for a night out? If this is your first time visiting a poker room in Texas, read on to discover the best casino alternatives in Houston: our top five private poker clubs for a little bit of gambling fun without heading for the border.
1: Champions Club Texas
6440 West Sam Houston Parkway South, Houston, TX 77072
Champions Club Texas is a luxurious hospitality and entertainment complex in the Westchase area, boasting a spacious and well-designed poker room, boutique hotel, and delicious dining at the Champions Club Texas Bar & Lounge.
Players are welcomed into the well-appointed club by professional and friendly staff, who are experts in attending to your needs during your gaming session. The tables are of the finest quality, and there are heaps of space for maneuvering your way around.
There are a variety of poker games and tournaments that cater to both serious and casual players, with free lessons even being offered on Wednesday nights. The club offers daily tournaments, cash games, and special events, so there’s always something exciting happening. The website has a calendar of events that you can view to see what’s on and plan your night out accordingly.
You can also apply for your membership on the website ahead of your visit to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Membership is reasonably priced, with options for daily, monthly, and annual memberships. The club often runs promotions and offers free playing time for members during certain hours, making it an attractive option if you’re a regular player.
Aside from the poker, you can make a night of it by booking yourself into the full-service onsite hotel, which features valet parking, 24/7 security, 24/7 dining, a pool, and a fitness center. Rooms range from the standard king and queen up to the king presidential suite with luxurious fittings and features.
The menu at the Bar & Lounge starts with breakfast at 8am, a full dinner service until 2am, and runs with a late-night menu featuring chili, hot dogs, and other delicious snacks until 7am.
2: Paramount Social & Poker Club
13153 Northwest Freeway Houston, TX 77040
Paramount Social & Poker Club is open daily from 2pm until 5am and runs various poker games, tournaments, and other social events. As a members-only club, you must pay a one-time $10 initiation fee plus a $10 daily membership any time you visit. There are no other ongoing fees except for tournament buy-ins.
Membership includes entry to the club, free drinks and snacks, and free access to board games, gin, chess, pinball, pool, and arcade games. You can play freeroll tournaments or buy into tournaments with guaranteed prize pools. Further information regarding upcoming tournaments can be found on the club website.
Snacks and drinks are limited, and no restaurant is onsite, like at the Champions Club. Alcohol is also not for sale at Paramount Social Club, but you can bring your own bottle and store it safely in lock-up storage lockers.
Again, you can set up your membership in advance via the club’s website, which will save you time and help you plan your night out better. You can expect a much more casual experience at Paramount in comparison with Champions, but the club has a great social atmosphere and a nice community vibe.
3: Spades Poker House
20798 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598
If you live out closer to the bay, then Spades Poker House in Webster is worth a visit. It’s a bit further out of the city, but it makes for a fantastic night out for poker enthusiasts or those just looking for an alternative night of entertainment.
The club features an upscale lounge, a stocked bar, a kitchen, and 20 poker tables throughout the venue. You can expect a variety of poker game variants, cash games, and tournaments, including popular games like $1/3 Hold’em and PLO.
Get the most of your night out with a meal at Gyro Hero, the onsite restaurant. Here, you can enjoy a delicious choice of fresh and healthy meals, from breakfast to dessert. Mains start from as little as $13, so it’s very reasonably priced and open until 2am on weekends.
One unique aspect of Spades Poker House is the Soul Body Massage service. In this in-house massage service, you can relax under the exceptional care of professionally trained and licensed massage therapists.
The team offers specialist massage services designed to combat the stresses of prolonged poker sessions, helping you to stay focused on your game and improve your posture.
Spades Poker House offers so much more than just poker. It has big-screen TVs to watch your favorite sports, a popular on-site restaurant, a dedicated massage service, regular tournaments, and special offers and promotions for members, making it a fantastic option for a night out gambling in Houston.
4: Prime Social Club
7801 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77063
Prime Social Club offers another top-tier gaming experience for poker fans in Houston. The club has maximized its space to offer dozens of poker tables, a fantastic dining experience, and a full lounge bar service offering a range of superb cocktails.
Again, a range of games and tournaments run at the club throughout the year, which you can keep up with at PokerAtlas and sign up for upcoming tournaments.
Food is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with mains averaging about $14 for a burrito bowl or Philly cheese steak.
The bar boasts “every hour is happy hour,” with $2 domestic beers and $3 imports. Plus, you can pick from a selection of cocktails starting at just $7 per drink, so it’s the perfect venue for a night out, even if you’d rather watch the poker sipping on your drink than actively participate in games.
The club offers a range of promotions, including a 100% match on your first purchase as a new member, waived daily door fees before 12 noon, and a chance to earn free poker hours for every 20 purchased.
Prime Social Club has a lot going on, and its website isn’t the prettiest. You might find it easier to keep up with its latest special offers, live games, tournaments, and events on the club’s social media sites.
5: Texas Card House
6100 Westheimer Rd #142, Houston, TX 77057
Texas Card House prides itself on providing the premier poker experience in Texas. With poker room venues throughout the state and some 75,000 members at the time of writing, it is a popular club with a huge following both online and offline. In our view, it is one of the best venues in Houston for high-stakes poker.
Membership at Texas Card House feels more like joining an exclusive club. Members have special access to THC Social, its poker games, and exclusive invitations to special events. Plus, you can visit the rest of the venues in the state, buy merch, follow the Trailblazer Tour, and play Hijack Poker online via the Texas Card House app.
Membership for the club ranges from $10 for daily access to $300 for unlimited visits throughout the year or $30 month-to-month. The Houston site has $12 hourly access fees with buy-ins varying for the different tournaments.
Membership at Texas Card House will also grant you access to exclusive special rates to stay at the Aloft Houston Hotel near the Galleria and a selection of Choice Hotels if you’re visiting from out of town or just want to make a night of it.
Play Your Cards Right for a Great Night Out in Houston

Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash
If you’re looking for a night out gambling in Houston, these popular poker clubs are a great alternative to driving over the border to a full-on casino. The entertainment goes way beyond sitting at the tables, and they make a fun night out for a bunch of reasons that appeal to a great many different people.
Gambling in Texas doesn’t have to be off the table with these fun and safe private poker clubs, which is the best of what Houston has to offer.