Poker News 8/17/05
After a hiatus of several years, a number of Australian casinos are reintroducing poker on the casino floor. The latest casinos to do so are sister casinos Conrad Jupiters, located on the Gold Coast, and Brisbane's Conrad Treasury. Before the current poker boom, the trend was to strip poker from casinos' offerings. Poker, since it is played peer to peer, and not against the casino, is less of a moneymaker for the house than other games. The current popularity of poker, however, has made it a 'must have' for any competitive casino. Even if the game itself is less lucrative, it guarantees to draw crowds, a benefit best not overlooked.
Full Tilt Poker and Bluff Magazine anted up for a good cause at their Wynn Las Vegas Charity Gala and Celebrity Poker Tournament July 5, 2005, raising over $100,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas. Held at the La Bete Nightclub in the prestigious Wynn Las Vegas, the stars came out to test their skills against the pros and bid on rare poker memorabilia. The lavish event – the first of its kind at La Bete, brought out Las Vegas business and political elite, world renowned poker pros, as well as celebrity poker players willing to put their skills and their money up for a worthy cause. Rounding out the table were notable Hollywood celebrities including, Ron Livingston (Sex and the City,) Nicholas Gonzales (The OC,) Jennifer Tilly (Liar Liar,) Joe Reitman (The Perfect Storm,) Erik Palladino (ER,) Omarosa Manigault Stallworth (The Apprentice,) Comedian David Brenner and others.
The California State Poker Championship is coming back to the Commerce Casino starting Tuesday September 6, with an estimated $6 million in prize money to be awarded, and a $50,000 cash prize to the best all-around player. Three weeks of preliminary events, including hold’em, stud, and Omaha games, will lead up to the $5,100 championship event on September 23rd. Last year, actor Ben Affleck took home the $356,400 first place prize, continuing the run of underdog champions in big buy-in poker events.
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