The city of Dallas has lost its latest battle in a long-running dispute over poker rooms. A five-member panel of the Dallas Board of Adjustment voted 4-1 to reinstate the certificate of occupancy for Champions Social Club, an upscale venue that plans to operate a poker room in North Dallas.

The decision, handed down after a marathon seven-and-a-half-hour hearing, reversed the city’s April move to revoke the club’s certificate of occupancy just days after initially approving it. The case has been closely watched as it touches on unresolved questions surrounding Texas gaming laws and land use rules.

David Neumann, chair of Panel A and a former Dallas city council member, said the panel was guided by both the law and recent court rulings. He cited the Texas Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the city’s appeal in a separate poker room case as part of the reasoning behind his motion to allow Champions Social Club to proceed. “When I look at the rules, the facts, and the law, it only takes me one way,” Neumann said.

The decision followed lengthy arguments from both sides. Attorneys for the city argued that the certificate had been issued in error and therefore required revocation under city code. They maintained that poker rooms are not an approved land use under current rules and that operations of this kind violate state law.

Opponents of the club also voiced strong concerns. Dozens of residents from the nearby Bent Tree North subdivision attended the meeting, with many speaking out against the project. “This is my third time coming down to city hall to protest Champions Poker House,” said neighbor Nancy Bergsma. “Why are we still discussing this? Please vote no and stop illegal activity from having a home at the edge of our subdivision.”

To address neighborhood concerns, the board added an amendment requiring Champions Social Club to construct an eight-foot solid fence along Briargrove Drive, aimed at blocking both vehicle and pedestrian access between the parking lot and the subdivision. The measure was designed to reduce the impact on the community.

Even so, not all members were convinced. Michael Hopkovitz cast the lone dissenting vote, expressing both skepticism about the legality of poker rooms and disappointment in the city’s handling of the issue. “To say that the city was grossly incompetent in how it handled this situation would be an understatement,” Hopkovitz remarked. “However, in the absence of being shown where I could see exactly where it says poker rooms are legal, I’m kind of left concluding that it’s not legal.”

Supporters of the project, however, welcomed the panel’s decision. Co-owner Isaac Trumbo expressed gratitude and emphasized the club’s investment in the property. “We’re committed to the city of Dallas,” Trumbo said. “We’ve invested $15 million into the restoration of this iconic property that has been important to North Dallas for a generation.”

The ruling underscores the ongoing legal and political complexities surrounding poker rooms in Texas, where the laws remain ambiguous and enforcement varies from city to city. While the Board of Adjustment’s decision provides Champions Social Club with the opportunity to move forward, the broader debate over poker’s place in Dallas is far from resolved.

For now, Champions Social Club has cleared one of its biggest hurdles, but it may continue to face resistance both from city leaders and from nearby residents concerned about the impact of a high-profile poker venue in their community.