Colorado’s gambling law has put a damper on a star-studded charity poker tournament planned for next week during the Democratic National Convention.
The “Poker at the Ballpark” tournament initially had a seat in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, valued at $10,000, as the grand prize.
But under state law, a poker tournament is considered illegal if it has an entry fee, awards prizes, involves luck and the participants don’t share a common interest beyond gambling. (Such poker tournaments are only legal at the state’s mountain casinos).
To comply with Colorado law, tournament organizers announced today that no awards will be given based on play. Instead, they will give away more than 175 door prizes via random drawings.
Buy-ins for the tournament, to be held on the club level of Coors Field, range from $500 for a single seat to $7,500 for the “Royal Flush” corporate sponsor package that includes 8 seats.
Proceeds will benefit Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Participants will include actors Ben Affleck, Seth Meyers, Paul Rudd and Sarah Silverman. Poker pros Andy Bloch, Barry Greenstein and Erik Seidel have also been confirmed for the tournament, which is being organized by the Poker Players Alliance.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com
