Partypoker Aims to Raise £100K for Freelance Dealers

The coronavirus pandemic has completely shaken up the land-based poker industry, with poker rooms around the world shutting down and live tournaments being delayed. As a result, casino employees in the United Kingdom face financial turmoil as they wait to receive payouts from the UK government – but partypoker wants to help them out with a new fundraising effort.

The online poker brand will be hosting an online poker tournament, the Grand Prix 4 Dealers, where registration fees will be paid out to freelancer dealers in the partypoker LIVE network. A JustGiving campaign has been launched, and donations will also be taken via the brand’s online poker lobby.

Grand Prix for Dealers

The Grand Prix 4 Dealers will run from April 26^th to May 3^rd, 2020, with all registration fees being distributed to freelance dealers in Partypoker Live’s network. Partypoker’s goal is to raise £100,000.

The entry fee is $55, and there will be 24 Day 1s. Players will be able to enter as many Day 1s as they want, but will only be able to take their largest stack through if they qualify on more than one.

There will be a $250,000 guarantee. If the tournament manages to meet its guarantee, then Partypoker will raise $25,000 – but the brand is optimistic that it will exceed the total.

A statement from partypoker reads:

“Many poker dealers are self-employed and not eligible for government assistance apart from loans, which must be repaid, or basic benefits. The poker community is close-knit and we’re asking you as a member of that community, to help look after some of our own”.

Rob Yong Shows Personal Support

Rob Yong, owner of the Dusk Till Dawn poker room and Partypoker Live partner, will also personally money to support the cause. For the first £100,000 raised from the tournament, he’ll match it with a donation of his own.

He continues to be a great example – not only for the poker market but the hospitality industry as a whole. His card room was shut on March 16^th, and he continues to pay his staff while they aren’t working in the club.

More Ways to Help

If you want to help support Partypoker’s freelance dealers but can’t join the tournament, you can donate via the crowdfunding donation tank in PartyPoker’s lobby. Here, you’ll make a $100 buy-in, all of which will be donated to the dealer’s fund.

There is also a Just Giving page, where you can pledge your support. Plenty of high-profile names in the poker world have donated, so far. Sam Trickett donated $5000, while John Duthie offered $2000. Triton Poker even donated a whopping $50,000.

If this activity is anything to go on, it won’t be long before partypoker meets its goal. With the Grand Prix’s registration fees and donations from the poker community, we wouldn’t be surprised if the brand raised well over £100,000.