Two avid poker enthusiasts and proponents of women in poker are set to open the first-ever woman-only owned poker room in Texas.
The Den Poker Lounge, founded by Marjorie Bradford and Jamie Kempf, has scheduled its Grand Opening in Rowlett, Texas for Nov. 12. Doors open at 3 p.m. local time in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m.
Women-Focused, But Everyone is Welcome
Texas has some strict anti-gambling laws, but many poker rooms in the state operate legally by using the membership-based model instead of raking pots. The Den, which is set to operate within an affluent town, offers social club memberships to poker players.
The soon-to-be Dallas-area poker club will have similar amenities to other Texas card rooms, but with more of a focus on bringing women into poker.
“This has been a project over two years in the making,” Kempf said. “Poker has always been a passion for myself and Marjorie, and we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we could bring something different to the poker community.”
That “something different” is a card room that caters heavily to women in a game that, as Kempf said, “has traditionally been a male-dominated industry.” But this isn’t a poker room just for women. Kempf and Bradford want to create an environment where “everyone feels welcome.”
“We wanted The Den to be more than just another poker room,” Kempf, who finished runner-up for a WSOP Circuit ring in 2024, explained. “We wanted a place with a great atmosphere, a strong sense of community, and somewhere people genuinely enjoy spending their time.”
The co-owner said she’s received “a lot of positive feedback from players” as she embarks on a new business venture.
“We’re really proud of what we’re building, and can’t wait to share it with everyone,” she said.
The Den will be the first woman-only owned poker room in Texas, but not the first to focus heavily on the women in poker aspect. A card room in Austin called The Royal Card Club attempted a somewhat similar model in 2024.
There will be plenty of competition in the area, with major rooms such as Texas Card House (two locations) and Palace Poker bringing in hundreds of players. But the Dallas-Forth Worth has approximately 8.5 million residents, and there is no shortage of poker players in the area.
Kempf said she is planning to have 15 card tables at The Den, with No-Limit Hold’em games ranging from $1/$2 potentially all the way up to $50/$100. Pot-Limit Omaha, mixed games, and bomb pot games will be added to the rotation based on interest.