Gaming Guru

PokerStars donates $1 million to aid Darfur

PokerStars.com has pledged $1 million to the charity Not On Our Watch, whose mission is to focus global attention and resources to stop and prevent mass atrocities.

The charity, formed by Ocean's Thirteen stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and producer Jerry Weintraub, is focused on supporting existing humanitarian relief efforts in Darfur and ensuring the protection of civilians in the war-torn region.

More than 400,000 people have been killed in the western region of Sudan and more than 2 million innocent civilians are living in refugee camps in Sudan or Chad. More than 3.5 million people are completely reliant on international aid for survival.

In addition to its $1 million donation, PokerStars matched its players' contributions of $8,500 in the first "Ocean's Thirteen Darfur Charity Tournament" on May 13. Two hundred and sixty-five players entered the $10 rebuy tournament, and the top four players won a pair of tickets to the movie's premier at the Cannes Film Festival on May 24, plus a two-night hotel accommodation in Cannes and $2,000 for travel expenses.

PokerStars will be holding another $10 rebuy tournament to benefit the charity on May 27, with each of the top four finishers claiming a pair of tickets to the U.S. premiere in Los Angeles on June 5 with hotel accommodations and $2,000 for travel expenses. It will hold a third tournament at a date to be announced where the winner will receive a professional poker table baize autographed by the film's stars.

PokerStars is also giving its players the opportunity to contribute directly to Not On Our Watch from their PokerStars accounts through a fund transfer and will match all amounts donated by its players.