Poker Stars and Celebrities Raise $250,000 at 14th Annual Variety Casino Night
Jamie Gold and Bruce Buffer co-hosted the 14th Variety Poker & Casino Night at Paramount Studios, drawing 800 attendees and 50 sponsors to raise $250,000 for children’s programs in Southern California.
Key Takeaways
- The 14th Variety Poker & Casino Night raised $250,000 for Variety: The Children’s Charity of Southern California.
- Jamie Gold and Bruce Buffer co-hosted the event at Paramount Studios, with support from 50 sponsors.
- Princess Love won the charity event, which featured a final table with seven women out of eight finalists.
- Six adaptive bicycles were presented to children during the event, symbolising its direct community impact.
The 14th annual Variety Poker & Casino Night, co-hosted by 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jamie Gold and veteran poker player Bruce Buffer, raised $250,000 for Variety – the Children’s Charity of Southern California this summer. The event gathered 800 supporters on Paramount Studios’ Hollywood lot and saw major backing from 50 sponsors, including Paramount, Disney, Universal, MGM, Regal, and Dolby. This contribution will directly support adaptive equipment, mobility assistance, and essential resources for children with disabilities across Southern California.
Focus on Variety: The Children’s Charity
Founded in 1941, Variety: The Children's Charity funds services in healthcare, education, and mobility for medically challenged, disadvantaged, and disabled youth. Globally, it has delivered more than $2 billion in aid, assisting over 45 million children. The Los Angeles branch, supported by high-profile annual events like this charity poker night, emphasises programs that enhance independence, inclusion, and opportunity.
“We came together to raise $250,000 today to help children across Southern California with disabilities, developmental challenges, and special needs,” Variety stated. “These funds will support Variety’s programs that provide adaptive equipment, mobility assistance, recreational opportunities, and essential resources that help children and families experience greater independence, inclusion, and opportunity.”
Hollywood and Poker Communities Unite for Charity
The invitation-only event drew a large number of Hollywood figures, established poker pros, and poker industry media representatives. Attendees included Mehki Pfifer, Ray J, Princess Love, Nick Gonzales, Roger Cross, Tony Dennison, MC Gainey, Peter Facinelli, Bai Ling, Billy Burke, Alexis Knapp, two-time WSOP Main Event champion Michael Mizrachi, and Hustler Casino Live founder Ryan Feldman. With 800 participants enjoying two levels of poker tournaments, the evening showcased the positive relationship between the entertainment industry and the poker community in supporting social causes.
Notable Sponsors and Supporters
- Paramount
- Disney
- Universal
- MGM
- Regal
- Dolby
These companies were among 50 sponsors who underwrote the event, strengthening both its fundraising capacity and its profile in the region.
Poker Tournament Results and a Historic Final Table
The charity tournament fielded over 200 players in its high-stakes segment. The final table was remarkable: seven of the eight remaining players were women, with this correspondent the only male present. Princess Love, a television personality, won the event, facing a choice of a Delta Air Lines and CLEARiT travel package or a bankroll to appear on a future Hustler Casino Live stream. She selected the Hustler Casino Live appearance.
“The highlight of the evening was presenting six adaptive bicycles to six amazing kids,” Jamie Gold said. “These bikes represent so much more than mobility. They mean independence, confidence, inclusion, and the simple joy of being able to ride alongside friends and family.”
Gold, winner of $12,000,000 in the 2006 WSOP Main Event after holding the chip lead for eight of ten days, has hosted Variety’s poker event at Paramount Studios since its launch in 2012. The Variety Poker & Casino Night has become an annual tradition for both the entertainment and poker industries in Hollywood.
Impact and Legacy of Charity Poker Events
Gold’s commitment over the past 23 years has helped drive poker’s role as a philanthropic force, especially in Los Angeles. By transforming competitive poker into a fundraising vehicle, Variety and its allies have enabled vital programs for children facing diverse challenges. The evening’s presentation of six adaptive bicycles was symbolic of the event’s broader impact — providing concrete resources that change children’s daily lives.
Poker Brings Communities Together
Events like the Variety Poker & Casino Night demonstrate the game’s social capacity. The tournament offered a reminder that poker is more than competition; it is a platform for connection, inclusion, and meaningful support of larger causes. The record-setting final table also highlighted the rising presence and success of women in live poker tournaments.
Updates on future charity poker initiatives and poker-industry involvement in community causes can be found in the news and events sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was raised at the 14th Variety Poker & Casino Night?
The event raised $250,000 to benefit children’s programs run by Variety: The Children’s Charity of Southern California, providing adaptive equipment, mobility assistance, and more.
Who won the final table at the Variety charity poker tournament?
Princess Love finished first at the final table, which featured seven women and one man among the last eight contenders.
Who co-hosted the 2026 Variety Poker & Casino Night in Hollywood?
Jamie Gold, winner of the 2006 WSOP Main Event, and Bruce Buffer, known as the voice of the UFC, co-hosted the event at Paramount Studios.
What impact did the Variety Poker & Casino Night have on the community?
The event provided direct support through the donation of six adaptive bicycles to children and raised resources for mobility and inclusion initiatives across Southern California.
Which companies sponsored the Hollywood charity poker event?
Fifty sponsors supported the event, including Paramount, Disney, Universal, MGM, Regal, and Dolby, enhancing fundraising and event exposure.
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About the author
Daniel Reyes
Poker Correspondent
Daniel Reyes covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT down to the daily online grind, room news, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, prize pool, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the payout structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For roster changes, software updates, and regulatory knocks on the poker economy, Daniel Reyes is the desk's first read.
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