On May 9th, a private Los Angeles residence will host Casino Royale, a fundraiser benefiting the Hollywood Office of the Humane Society of the United States. Online poker room PokerStars is co-sponsoring the event and has generously donated a choice of two $15,000 prize packages to the winner of its charity poker tournament.
“Casino Royale: Playing for a Change” will take place from 7:00pm to 11:00pm Pacific Time. The event bills itself as “an elegant evening of casino games, martini and wine bar, gourmet vegan food, silent auction, and a celebrity poker tournament to help us launch ‘End Dogfighting’ in Los Angeles.” Cocktail attire is required and the organization’s beneficiary program educates youth on considering their pit bulls pets instead of weapons. “End Dogfighting” has already been successfully launched in Chicago and Atlanta.
Appearing at the Humane Society fundraiser will be World Poker Tour (WPT) Host Vince Van Patten, 2004 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion Greg Raymer, and “American Pie” actress Shannon Elizabeth. In exchange for a $350 donation, event attendees will receive one ticket to Casino Royale plus $25 in chips to play in all casino games. A $500 “Guardian” buy-in is good for one ticket to the event plus $225 in chips. For a $1,000 donation to the Humane Society, players will receive two tickets plus $250 in chips per person. For $5,000, patrons will obtain ten tickets to the event plus $300 in chips. For $7,500, 15 tickets and $300 in chips per person will be dished out. Finally, $10,000 “Top Dog” packages entail 20 tickets to the event plus $350 in chips for each person.
The buy-ins are tax deductible for the amount over $160. Donations and reservations can be made ahead of time using a check or major credit card. Event attendees will have a chance to play alongside some of the top names in the world of poker. Besides his $5 million payday for winning the 2004 WSOP Main Event, Raymer finished 14th in the prestigious $50,000 buy-in HORSE tournament in 2007, cashing for $103,000. He made a deep run in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, nearly repeating as champion and grabbing 25th for $304,000. That tournament was ultimately won by Team PokerStars Pro member Joe Hachem.
Van Patten and fellow WPT Host Mike Sexton have brought the tournament series into the homes of millions of poker players across the world for seven seasons. In fact, the WPT Championship for Season VII just wrapped up from the Bellagio in Las Vegas, with Yevgeniy Timoshenko grabbing $2.1 million for the win. He became the second youngest WPT titleholder ever at 21 years and two months and already owns more than $3 million in career earnings. Prior to his WPT victory, Timoshenko took down the 2008 installment of the Asian Poker Tour’s Macau Main Event for $500,000. Elizabeth has been associated with Doyle’s Room, which now makes its home on the rapidly growing and U.S.-friendly Cake Poker Network. Its namesake, Doyle Brunson, is a 10-time WSOP bracelet winner, tied for the second most ever with Johnny Chan. Both trail Ultimate Bet pro Phil Hellmuth, who has earned 11 over his illustrious career.
Perhaps the most visible case of dog fighting in recent years involves former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. The Virginia Tech product is in the midst of serving a 23 month prison term for operating a dog fighting ring. According to an article that appeared on ESPN.com in August of 2007, investigators at Vick’s Virginia home “found 66 dogs, some of them injured, and items typically used in dogfighting. They included a ‘rape stand’ that holds aggressive dogs in place for mating and a ‘breakstick’ used to pry open a dog’s mouth.” Vick may be suspended by the NFL once is he released from prison, although no official announcement has been made. On Tuesday, the Albany Firebirds arena football team offered Vick a contract once is he freed worth $200 per week plus a $50 bonus per win.
Competitive bidding for a seat in the charity poker tournament is currently taking place. Only the top five bidders will be able to play in the tournament against five celebrities. They will also receive two tickets to the event. Visit the Humane Society auction page for more information. The Hollywood Office of the Humane Society of the United States can be reached at 818-501-2275 or by e-mail at leigh@hsushollywood.org.
