The best card room in Houston just got better. Champions Club Texas, the premier social poker club and boutique hotel located in Houston’s Westchase community, has appointed Mike Traylor as its new director of poker operations. Traylor, whose last role was as General Manager at Texas Card House in Spring, is a lifelong poker aficionado who played on the World Series of Poker (WSOP) circuit before moving to a career in poker operations.
Traylor came to the game early, learning to play nickel-ante poker at age 10 with his father and friends at their deer lease. As a student, he was exceptional at math and discovered that math is a key component in poker strategy.
As an adult, he started traveling the WSOP circuit, playing full time from 2008 to 2011. This experience gave him a deep understanding of the game and helped shape him into a strong manager once he transitioned to the other side of the table.
Traylor’s early work experience made him a jack of all trades: He has experience in sales, merchant services, personal investments and even in the mechanics of race cars. Over the past 15 years, Traylor has served as a dealer, game runner and poker manager, being named Assistant General Manager at Texas Card House in 2023 before being promoted to General Manager less than a year later.
“Mike is well known across the Houston poker scene as a force of nature,” said Isaac Trumbo, President of Champions Club Texas. “The energy he brings will make what Houstonians have named the best poker room in town even better for both experienced poker players and newcomers to the game.”
“Poker is a social game – you consistently meet new people from all walks of life across the table. During the hand, we may be mortal enemies, but in between hands, it’s a great social environment,” Traylor said. “Champions Club Texas has a more upscale and welcoming environment than any other card room in Houston. I’m excited to grow the club in a way that makes it accessible to everyone to come together and enjoy this special place.”
In his new role, Traylor will lead a rebirth of sorts at the 3-year-old Champions Club Texas. The upscale poker lounge will soon announce new promotions including regular Learn-to-Play sessions, tournament series and a wider variety of tournaments. For more information, follow Champions Club Texas on Instagram and at championsclubtexas.com.
