CISO.POKER events hosted at Texas licensed card houses are subject to Texas private membership club law. Under Texas law, participation in poker at a licensed card house requires active club membership. For eligible CISO.POKER events, membership fees are sponsored — covered by CISO.POKER or a designated event sponsor — so there is no out-of-pocket cost to attendees. Membership registration is handled directly and solely by the host card house.
Texas law (Texas Penal Code §47.02) generally prohibits gambling. Licensed Texas card houses operate legally under the private club membership model: they are organized as private membership associations, not commercial casinos. Members play poker against each other — not against the house. The card house charges membership and seat fees as a service, not a rake on winnings. This structure, when operated correctly, qualifies under the social gambling exception and private club exemptions under Texas law.
Because the card house is a private club, only registered members may participate in play. This is a legal requirement of the operating license — not a preference of the venue or CISO.POKER. Attending the event as a spectator or guest may be possible at the venue's discretion, but participation in the poker tournament requires club membership.
CISO.POKER's mission is to remove every barrier between security executives and a seat at the table. For Texas events, this extends to membership fees. Where permitted by the host card house and applicable law, CISO.POKER or a designated event sponsor will cover the cost of a guest membership for approved attendees.
The sponsored membership process works as follows:
If sponsored membership is not available for a specific event (e.g., the host card house does not accept third-party sponsorship of member fees), the membership fee will be disclosed in advance and you will complete registration independently. Current Texas card house annual memberships are typically nominal ($5–$20 USD). CISO.POKER will always disclose whether membership is sponsored or self-pay in your seat confirmation email.
Membership in a Texas card house is a legal construct required by the venue's operating structure — not a commercial subscription. In most cases, membership includes:
CISO.POKER does not control, administer, or benefit from the card house membership program. Your membership is a direct relationship between you and the host venue. Any benefits, communications, or future contact associated with that membership are governed by the card house's own membership terms and privacy policy.
If you do not wish to register as a member of the host card house, you may not be able to participate in the tournament. In that event, contact [email protected] as early as possible — we will work with you on alternatives where available.
Texas card houses are required to verify that all members and participants are of legal age. Government-issued photo ID will be required at the point of membership registration and/or at event check-in. The minimum age requirement is 21 years of age at most licensed card house venues, though some venues may admit 18+ — the applicable minimum will be stated in your seat confirmation.
CISO.POKER does not perform or retain any ID verification. Age and identity verification is conducted solely by the host card house under their operating license obligations.
| Responsibility | CISO.POKER | Host Card House |
|---|---|---|
| Event production, format, tournament rules | Yes | — |
| Attendee curation and seat approvals | Yes | — |
| Sponsorship and prizes | Yes | — |
| Membership fee sponsorship (where applicable) | Yes | — |
| Membership registration and credentialing | — | Yes |
| Age and ID verification | — | Yes |
| Venue rules, conduct on premises | — | Yes |
| Member data and privacy | — | Yes (card house privacy policy) |
For informational purposes: CISO.POKER events are not gambling under applicable law. No attendee pays a buy-in, contributes to a prize pool, or receives prizes in exchange for any form of payment. All prizes are sponsor-donated promotional items. The tournament format is a structured social activity consistent with the social gambling exception under Texas Penal Code §47.02(b), in addition to the private club framework of the host venue.
CISO.POKER does not provide legal advice. If you have specific questions about Texas gaming law as it applies to your corporate attendance or gift policies, consult your legal team. We are happy to provide an event format letter for corporate compliance purposes — email [email protected].
This policy applies generally to any CISO.POKER event hosted at a licensed Texas card house. Specific venue requirements (membership fee, age minimum, registration deadline, credential format) will be detailed in each event's seat confirmation email. If you have questions about a specific upcoming event's Texas venue requirements, contact [email protected].
This policy is governed by the laws of the State of Texas. Any disputes arising from this policy shall be resolved in the courts of Harris County, Texas. Host card house membership terms are governed separately by the card house's own terms and applicable Texas law.
Questions about Texas venue requirements: [email protected]
CyberAdX Network, part of CISO Marketplace · Houston, TX
Invite-only Texas Hold'em for 75–100 CISOs and senior security leaders. Free entry. No badge scans. No pitches. Real conversations across the table.
75–100 seats · Applications reviewed manually
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