If you follow the game of poker at all, you know that celebrities love it. From playing at home to taking on big pros, celebrities like Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Tobey McGuire, Leonardo DiCaprio and a host of others have been seen at the felt. In many cases, celebrities play the game as a way to raise money for charity. For the World Poker Tour, the poker brand is going to be hosting a new online event soon complete with celebrities and ways to raise money for those in need.
The King’s Celebrity Poker Challenge
Partnering with Budweiser, the WPT announced today that they are going to host The King’s Celebrity Poker Challenge on ClubWPT. The event will include big celebrities as well as athletes who will compete on the website, which is the brand’s sweepstakes-based online poker gaming platform.
The first episode of the event will feature several big names including Jon Hamm, Kevin Pollack, Jason Alexander, pro surfer Kelly Slater, NBA’s Pau Gasol and Chef Jose Andres. The players will take part from home and fans can tune in to Twitch on May 28th to watch the two hour special.
Budweiser will be donating $15,000 for each of the six players to the World Central Kitchen as well as $35,000 more to be donated in the name of the winner. In total, the event will raise $125,000 that will go to the organization that delivers meals to frontline health care workers, seniors, families and others in need.
Helping Those In Need
The WPT is excited to partner with Budweiser to host this charity poker event. The WPT CEO Adam Pliska called the effort a trailblazing step forward for charity poker initiatives as well as televised poker. The WPT always strives to be innovative and the partnership with Budweiser helps them to bring poker to the homes of fans during this time when live events are not taking place.
Vice President of Marketing for Budweiser Monica Rustgi commented as well, stating the company has a long history of being associated with competition. They miss the excitement of watching a live game and wanted to give people a chance to feel that competition thrill while safely at home.
For Budweiser, they see the event as a way to create light-hearted fun as well as place the spotlight on a top organization such as the World Central Kitchen.
Tony Dunst and Vince Van Patten, WPT commentators, will be on hand to provide insight of the event along with WPT anchor Lynn Gilmartin. The commentators will help bring the action to live, making comments as the celebrities and sports stars make their moves, trying to be the last player standing during the big event.
If this tournament is successful, it will not be surprising to see the WPT as well as other brands offering similar events for their players as well as with special celebrity or sports guests.
