Gaming is one of the world’s most affluent markets, with casino owners and professional players making millions of dollars every year. To many, it may seem like a self-serving industry – but members of the gambling community are showing their true colours. This week, many professionals in the gaming sector have come forward to donate money to relief efforts for the recent typhoon that has devastated the Philippines.
The effort seems to have been spearheaded by Calvin Ayre, owner of the Bodog brand. He recently announced that he would match all donations to typhoon relief that are made by members of the gaming industry. He is prepared to donate up to $1 million to the cause. To get the ball rolling, he has pledged $200 000 on top of the $1 million he plans to match.
Ayre also hopes to adopte a village in the area that was damaged by the typhoon, and will provide aid to residents of the town. Poker Stars is also getting involved. Players on Poker Stars and Full Tilt poker are now able to donate money to international relief efforts directly from their poker accounts. The poker room is also using its tournaments to raise money.
Players’ entries into some tournaments will not be paid into a prize pool; instead, they will be placed into Poker Stars’ Typhoon Fund. This is not the first time that Poker Stars has been involved in a generous charity effort. In 2013, the company paid for female players to enter the Race for Life, which benefits Cancer Research UK. In 2010, the Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure raised $100 000 for AIDS research.
Since 2004, the company has been involved in valuable charitable efforts. We hope that more online gaming operators will get involved. Over 600 000 people have been displaced and tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed. Aid from the gambling market will certainly help to repair some of the damage that has been caused by this devastating storm.
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