WPT Prime Returns to The Lodge Card Club in Texas

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Thu Jul 09, 2026, 11:00 am ET

Read Time: 4 minutes

WPT Prime Returns to The Lodge Card Club in Texas

poker

The WPT Prime festival is returning to The Lodge Card Club in Texas after a memorable debut at the popular poker venue in 2025. 

The World Poker Tour will once again bring its mid-major series to the Austin-area club this fall, giving players another opportunity to compete for a seven-figure guaranteed prize pool. 

This return highlights The Lodge's growing reputation as a premier tournament destination while reinforcing Texas' status as one of the country's fastest-growing live poker markets.

The festival also underscores the continued growth of live poker in Texas. At the same time, many players who regularly compete on US online poker sites are expected to travel to Austin for one of the year's biggest regional events.

WPT Prime Lodge Championship Returns This September

The 2026 WPT Prime Lodge Championship festival will run from September 24 through October 12, 2026. This gives players nearly three weeks of tournament action at The Lodge Card Club. The extensive schedule will feature a variety of events before culminating with the headline tournament.

The centerpiece is the $1,100 WPT Prime Lodge Championship, which will take place from October 8 to October 12. Once again, the tournament guarantees $1 million in prize money, making it one of the largest poker events in Texas this year.

Players will compete for a share of the guaranteed prize pool, prestigious WPT Prime honors, and another coveted tournament title. 

The extended festival schedule also offers numerous side events designed to attract recreational players and seasoned professionals alike.

Additionally, The Lodge's state-of-the-art livestreaming production will once again showcase featured action throughout the festival, with the championship final table expected to reach poker fans worldwide.

The return reflects the World Poker Tour's confidence in Texas as one of the country's fastest-growing live poker markets.

WPT Returns After Massive 2025 Turnout

The World Poker Tour's decision to return follows the overwhelming success of last year's inaugural festival at The Lodge.

The 2025 WPT Prime Lodge Championship attracted 1,648 entries, easily surpassing its $1 million guarantee. Those entries created a $1,598,560 prize pool, producing one of the largest tournament fields ever hosted at the venue.

Texas native Harvey Castro captured the title on home soil and collected $225,020 for the victory. His win gave local fans a memorable champion while establishing the event as an immediate success.

WPT CEO Adam Pliska praised the Texas poker community while announcing the festival's return.

"The response to last season's WPT Prime Lodge Championship demonstrated just how strong the poker community is in Texas," said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. "We are thrilled to return to The Lodge Card Club with another $1 million guaranteed Prime Championship event."

The strong turnout reinforced Texas' growing importance on the live tournament circuit. It also demonstrated that major poker festivals can thrive under the state's private club model.

The Lodge Continues Building Its Reputation

The Lodge Card Club has quickly become one of the premier venues for high-stakes poker in the United States. The Austin-area club regularly hosts major cash games, tournament series, and appearances from some of poker's biggest names.

Its industry-leading livestream operation has helped build a global audience. This allows poker fans to follow marquee cash games and tournament action from anywhere.

The return of WPT Prime further strengthens the club's reputation while bringing another nationally recognized series back to Texas.

This year's festival also adds another compelling storyline. Harvey Castro will return to defend his WPT Prime Lodge Championship title in front of his home-state fans.

Apart from the title, Castro is the reigning WPT Player of the Year. Another deep run would further cement his place in the event's short but memorable history.

With another $1 million guaranteed championship, worldwide livestream coverage, and growing national attention, the WPT Prime Lodge Championship is poised to build on last year's success. 

As Texas continues attracting players from across the country, The Lodge appears set to remain one of the most important stops on the live poker calendar.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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