Poker's Good Works
2007-11-21 15:47:09
By:
Gene Bromberg
While there are those who would say that
poker is the root of all evil, the fact is that for the vast majority of people a poker game is a chance to get together to have some fun. You'd like to walk away a winner, of course, but who cares about losing a few bucks when you get to hang out with friends (or make some new ones) over a game of cards? Have a few beers, eat some junk food, trash talk your buddies. I don't know about you, but when I get to Heaven, that's what it's gonna be like.
Because poker is fun, and because it's a social game that easily accomodates big groups, lots of charities have used
poker games as fundraising events. Bake sales are always popular and I guess bingo has it's adherents, but many charities have sponsored
poker games the last few years because they've found that a tournament is a great way to rake in a ton of money. Folks don't mind ponying up some extra money if they think they have a chance to win the tournament--and just about everyone has an overinflated opinion of their ability. And when they inevitably get knocked out, hey, it was all for a good cause! Even if they get insanely lucky and stumble into the money, of course they're going to donate some of it to the charity in question. Unless they want the Poker Gods to rain down unholy fire the next time they take to the felt.
Unfortunately, in some places charity tournaments have incurred the wrath of law enforcement (for example, my home town of Pittsburgh) and aren't as prevalent as they once were. If and when poker becomes 100% legal that'll change, and we'll see even more worthy events such as the Ante Up for Africa tournament Annie Duke and Don Cheadle held at this year's World Series, or Phil Gordon's Bad Beat On Cancer events. Or the "Beauty and the Bet" tournament that
Phil Hellmuth is hosting at the Palms Casino on December 1st that benefits families of police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
You may be wondering why a
poker tournament sponsored by Phil Hellmuth is called "Beauty and the Bet". Well, you got some nerve, buddy. But it turns out that Phil will be joined at the event by a bevy of Playboy bunnies, including Sarah Elizabeth, Stephanie Heinrich, Alison Waite, and Stacy Fusion. I invite you to Google and those ladies and then book your ticket to Vegas. I'm gonna be there five days too late. Yes, I'm not happy about that.
There will be two events--a $500 rebuy event at noon, and then a $2,500 "High Roller" event that starts at 5pm. Half the money goes to the prize pool, so if you do well you stand to pick up a nice chunk of change, and the other half goes to the
TASER Foundation and the families of fallen police officers. And if you happen to make the final three of either tournament you'll join Phil and the Bunnies at a VIP booth at the Palms' Playboy Club, where you'll play for the grand prize--two tickets to Super Bowl XLII and two tickets to Playboy's Super Saturday Night Party before the game. I'm willing to bet that Playboy's Super Bowl party will be fun. Very fun indeed.
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