First Women-Owned Poker Room to Open in Texas

Two poker enthusiasts are preparing to open the first women-owned poker room in Texas. The Den Poker Lounge, founded by Marjorie Bradford and Jamie Kempf, will open its doors at a grand opening event in Rowlett on November 12. Doors will open at 3:00 p.m., and the ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m.

Gambling rules in Texas are strict. Even so, many poker rooms in the state operate legally using a membership model rather than taking a commission from pots. The Den will adopt this model and offer social club memberships. The room will serve the wealthy town area in the Dallas region.

Kempf said the project has been in development for more than two years. She explained that the two women, who share a passion for poker, spent a long time thinking about how to bring something different to the poker community. Kempf noted that poker has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. However, she stressed that the room is not exclusively for women, and that they want everyone to feel welcome.

Kempf also pointed out that in 2024 she finished second for a WSOP Circuit ring. She said the venue aims to offer a strong sense of community and an enjoyable atmosphere. The partners said they are pleased with the positive feedback from players.

The room will operate with 15 tables. No-limit Texas Hold'em games will range from $1/$2 up to $50/$100. Pot-limit Omaha, mixed games and bomb pot games will be added to the schedule depending on demand. Large rooms such as Texas Card House and Palace Poker are also located in the area. Around 8.5 million people live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and the number of poker players there is high.