Poker News

At the recent Poker Players Alliance (PPA) charity tournament benefiting the USO of Metropolitan Washington, talk show host Montel Williams was among those in attendance. A former chip leader of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in years past, Williams has a wealth of poker experience under his belt on the world’s biggest stage.

Montel Williams is the principal face behind his own MS Foundation after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. As a result, he is passionate about fundraising and created the Foundation in 2000 “to provide financial assistance to select organizations and institutions conducting the most current research, to raise national awareness about MS, and to educate the public,” according to its website. The Foundation orchestrates walkathons, bikeathons, and horse rides, among other fundraising endeavors. Poker News Daily caught up to this wildly successful celebrity to talk about his involvement with National Poker Week.

Poker News Daily: You were one of the celebrities in attendance at the Ante Up for Africa charity poker tournament held during the 2009 WSOP, joining the likes of Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Jason Alexander. Can you tell us about it?

Williams: I played in it all three years it’s been held. It’s a great event. I played in it two days before I went to Africa myself. I just got back from Kenya in a project with Feed the Children. Annie Duke was telling me that they raised $400,000 at this year’s event, which is over the top because it provides services and necessary aid to a lot of people who are suffering from depression and poverty that we can’t even imagine.

PND: Your presence at the USO of Metropolitan Washington charity tournament was well-received. Can you talk about why you’re here tonight?

Williams: A lot of people who play poker know that I’m a poker player. I’m not a novice. I’ve been playing poker for almost 20 years. I led the WSOP Main Event myself. Right now, I have my own online casino internationally. It’s called the ITPL, or International Team Poker League, under Playtech. Because we take no money from U.S. URLs, I’m allowed to make money. It’s ridiculous. I can bring back my money, but the only money I have to pay taxes on is what I bring in America. The rest of it is mine. That’s ignorant. Why can’t we do this here in the United States?

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