As the holidays approach, the philanthropic nature of the poker community is coming out. Over the next couple of weeks in Las Vegas, there are two prominent charity poker events on the calendar, raising money for very worthy causes at a very critical time.
South Point Casino Hosts Charity Event for Boys & Girls Club
Tomorrow the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas will host a charity poker tournament that will be raising funds for the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada. ChaiPoker is sponsoring the event and its founder, Ben Abrahams, is putting the effort in as the organizer. Abrahams found the Boys & Girls Club because of his desire to help kids.
“I chose the Boys & Girls Club for my charity even because their mission is solely to support kids,” Abrahams told Jon Sofen of CardsChat.com. “I volunteered for a (Boys & Girls Club) when I was in college at the University of Pittsburg and, after college, I worked at a club outside of Boston.” The Boys & Girls Club is one of the top charitable causes for kids, offering them after-school programs, athletics and other programs that inspire the participants to greatness.
While it might not be the most glamorous choice for the tournament, Abrahams has stated that the South Point is the best spot for the event. Abrahams cites the size of the Point’s poker facilities that will allow for the larger crowds that a charity event draws and that the poker room manager and staff “have been very supportive” of his charitable efforts. It sets up for what should be a rather enjoyable event, one that players can sign up for at the South Point poker room.
The tournament itself will be a $120 buy in event, with that $120 getting you 10K in chips. You can get another 5000 in chips for another $10 and half of the prize pool will be going to the Boys & Girls Club. Abrahams has also organized a charitable auction that will take place before the 7PM (Pacific Time) start for the poker tournament.
Charity Series of Poker Teams with Vegas Golden Knights for Event
One week after the South Point event, the charitable initiative of poker professional Matt Stout will take center stage in Las Vegas. The Charity Series of Poker, teaming with the National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights, will partner for a benefit poker tournament for the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, the primary charitable effort of the NHL team. The event will be an all-day event at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. The festivities will start at noon (Pacific Time) with a Vegas Golden Knights watch party, and the tournament is before the tournament’s official start at 4:30PM
There are two ways that people can get involved with this event, one if you want to play and one if you don’t. For those who want to participate, the buy in is $300 and allows the participant access to the bar, food and entry into the tournament. For those who want to make a few more donations to the cause, there are rebuys available for the players at $100 a pop. Prizes to be awarded include the chip leader and the rebuy leader at the end of the late registration period ($1000 each) and the eventual champion will take down a seat to the 2019 World Series of Poker Championship Event. If you just want to show up to watch those in the tournament, a $75 ticket will get you in the door for the food and other festivities.
It is already known that Daniel Negreanu, who has adopted the Golden Knights as his favorite hockey team, will be in attendance. World Champion John Cynn, World Poker Tour Senior Tournament Director Matt Savage and four-time WSOP bracelet winner Jeff Madsen are also slated to attend. A silent auction will also be conducted along with the tournament. For more details on this event or to sign up, people are encouraged to visit a special website to get involved.
