Poker and Solidarity: Hollywood Stars and Celebrities Unite at Variety Poker & Casino Night
The annual event featured Jamie Gold, Bruce Buffer, and other figures, raising $250,000 for vulnerable youth in Southern California and showcased an unprecedented female final.
Key Takeaways
- The Variety Poker & Casino Night 2026 raised $250,000 for children's programs in Southern California.
- Jamie Gold and Bruce Buffer drove the event with 800 attendees and 50 industry sponsors.
- The final table of the main tournament was almost entirely composed of women, with Princess Love as the winner.
- Six adapted bicycles were donated to children with disabilities and special needs.
- The charity poker model continues to strengthen partnerships between the gaming community and the entertainment industry.
The fourteenth edition of the Variety Poker & Casino Night marked a new milestone in the collaboration between poker and philanthropy, raising $250,000 for Variety: The Children’s Charity of Southern California. Hosted by Jamie Gold, winner of the WSOP Main Event in 2006, and Bruce Buffer, renowned UFC announcer and poker enthusiast, the event brought together 800 attendees in August at the historic Paramount Studios lot in Hollywood. Much of the entertainment industry and prominent poker professionals showed their support for health, education, and mobility programs for vulnerable youth — a foundational principle of Variety since 1941.
Variety Poker & Casino Night: Record Fundraising and Industry Support
The exclusive invitation-only gala brought together top-tier sponsors, including Paramount, Disney, Universal, MGM, Regal, and Dolby. Variety's statement highlighted:
"We come together to raise $250,000 aimed at helping children throughout Southern California with disabilities, developmental challenges, and special needs. These funds will support programs for adaptive equipment, mobility assistance, recreational opportunities, and essential resources so that children and their families achieve greater independence, inclusion, and opportunities."
Variety's fundraising power is global, having funneled over two billion dollars to projects that have already benefited 45 million children around the world. In California, the focus is on transforming the lives of children with illnesses or difficulties, helping to cover daily challenges.
Involvement of Poker and Entertainment Figures
The tournament assembled well-known faces from film, television, and the professional circuit, including Mehki Pfifer, Ray J, Princess Love, Nick Gonzales, Roger Cross, Tony Dennison, MC Gainey, Peter Facinelli, Bai Ling, Billy Burke, Alexis Knapp, WSOP champion Michael Mizrachi, and Ryan Feldman (founder of Hustler Casino Live). Specialized members of the poker press were also in attendance.
Among the emotional moments, Jamie Gold highlighted the presentation of six adapted bicycles to six children:
"These bicycles represent much more than mobility. They symbolize independence, confidence, inclusion, and the simple joy of riding alongside friends and family."
Gold, famed for maintaining the chip lead for 8 of the 10 days of the marathon WSOP 2006 (which earned him $12,000,000 and his place in history), has been promoting charitable causes for 23 years and has been a regular host of the event since its inception in 2012.
An Unprecedented Female Final in the High Stakes Section
The 2026 edition was notable for the unprecedented composition of the final table in the high stakes tournament: seven of the eight finalists were women, with journalist Tiffany Michelle and I, Sofía Carrasco, among the last qualifiers from over 200 participants.
- Princess Love
- Tiffany Michelle
- Alexis Knapp
- Bai Ling
- (other female participants)
Only one man managed to reach the paid positions; the final table was almost entirely dominated by women. I finished in third place, while Princess Love emerged victorious. As a prize, she was offered the choice between a Delta Air Lines package and CLEARiT or a bankroll for a future Hustler Casino Live livestream; she chose to participate in the livestream.
Solidarity at the Center of Attention: The Impact of Poker Beyond the Game
The Variety Poker & Casino Night reaffirms every summer poker's social role as a generator of community and positive social impact. Bringing together entertainment figures, professional players, and leading companies in support of a cause demonstrates the industry's ability to transcend gaming and support real needs, such as facilitating access to adapted resources for children with health and mobility challenges.
The ongoing support from sponsors, celebrities, and the poker community is essential to maintain Variety's outreach and its proposal for inclusion. For the ecosystem of charity events linked to responsible gaming and social responsibility, this annual event marks a model of sustainable and replicable commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money was raised at the 2026 Variety Poker & Casino Night?
The event raised $250,000, aimed at supporting programs for children with special needs in Southern California, as confirmed by Variety: The Children’s Charity.
Who were the hosts and notable personalities at the event?
Jamie Gold, WSOP champion, and Bruce Buffer, UFC announcer and poker player, co-hosted the edition along with figures such as Michael Mizrachi, Ryan Feldman, and several celebrities from film and television.
What prizes did the winner of the main tournament receive?
Princess Love won the high stakes tournament and chose as her prize participation in an upcoming livestream of Hustler Casino Live instead of a Delta Air Lines and CLEARiT package.
What concrete contribution was made to the beneficiary children during the event?
Six adapted bicycles were given to children with disabilities, symbolizing independence, inclusion, and access to recreational activities alongside their families.
How has Jamie Gold contributed to charitable initiatives in poker?
Jamie Gold has organized charitable events for 23 years and has been a host and leading figure for the Variety Poker & Casino Night since its first edition in 2012.
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About the author
Sofía Carrasco
Poker Correspondent
Sofía Carrasco covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT to the daily room grind, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, pot, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For player moves, software, and regulation across the poker economy, Sofía Carrasco is the first read.
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