Poker is a very capitalist exercise. You play to enjoy yourself and you play to beat other players. You want to gain the chips and there is definitely no charity at the poker table. The selfish nature of poker is a necessity for players who need to be ruthless to survive in an environment where all of your opponents are seeking to part you from your money. You need a thick skin, good eye for money and a big heart.
Some players have the mental capacity, the stomach for the swings and, of course, the ability to make lots of money playing poker. Winning Texas Hold ‘em poker means you win cash and winning cash can mean that you do not need to work a normal job in some cases. Money is hard to come by and not everyone has that ability. You should not feel guilty for that ability but there are ways to help good causes whilst participating in poker.
In a $10,000 buy-in tournament the fee for entry is often $500. The casinos could get 2000 players at the height of the poker boom and that meant an earning of $1 million in tournament fees only for hosting a large event. Add the income from food, drinks and hotel bookings and you can see why the venues enjoy hosting the large poker tournaments! Charity organisers realised that if they could host charity events then they could raise a lot of money for charity through working with poker players. This is an idea that has taken off in recent years earning millions of dollars for good causes.
Poker benefits from helping such causes as it softens the image that often reflects badly upon poker players that portrays them as selfish gamblers. Those fortunate enough to have a lot of money through poker (and normal players) are now able to play in these charity tournaments at varying buy-ins to help some excellent causes for those less fortunate. Instead of their fees going to a casino they go to the charity. Players liked this concept so much that it became common for players to donate up to 50% of any prizes they won to charity meaning even more money raised for good causes.
Do a search on Google and you will see there are many websites running charity poker tournaments around the world. “Ante Up For Africa” is a very well-known poker charity that stages large poker tournaments. Annie Duke, poker pro and sister of Howard Lederer and actor Don Cheadle are the hosts of the charity and they even have an event in the WSOP schedule that regularly raises $700,000 for their cause each year. So far they have raised over $3 million solely from being involved with poker!
Despite the stereotype most successful poker players I know are aware that they live a life that offers many benefits. They are keen to point out that being a professional poker player has its stresses but life could be a lot worse. It can help your perspective on poker to remember that we are generally lucky to have water, food, warmth allowing us to focus on things like poker. Giving a little bit of time and money to help good causes, whilst still enjoying poker is a great way to give a little back to the world that has been so kind to us.
I try and play in one or two charity poker tournaments either live or online each year and suggest you do the same. It is a way of saying thank you for the many benefits that poker can give you. You do not have to pledge all of your tournament winnings to charity like Barry Greenstein but do a little and you will get a lot back. It will not stop that miracle two outer that busts you in a tournament or guarantee your Aces holds in a monster tournament pot but at least you will feel better for helping out a charity.
Poker does not have to be so selfish after all.
By Malcolm Clarke
