Charity poker nights have helped to raise money for many causes over the years, such as Ante up for Africa and the One Drop water initiative.
This winter, the Borgata is looking to give back for a noble cause: the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Professional poker player Matt Stout took inspiration from these past initiatives and established the Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) in 2014. Exciting news for poker players in New Jersey, as this January marks the return of the CSOP NJ poker series to the Garden State.
“I started the Charity Series of Poker in 2014, largely because I was in the middle of inking my sponsorship deal with Borgata and knew they’d generously support my philanthropic efforts,” Stout said.
“They went above and beyond my expectations and truly helped me build this charity.”
The Borgata Winter Open, CSOP help St. Jude
Last month, the Charity Series of Poker hinted at their return to Atlantic City.
“It’s great to be back raising money at Borgata, which I still consider my home casino since I’m from NJ and spent my first couple years after turning 21 living in the AC area,” said Stout.
The event is now confirmed for Jan. 20 at Borgata Atlantic City. The celebrity event is affordable for everyone for a buy-in of $125 and a $100 donation. The tournament will start at 8 p.m., and players will begin with a 15,000-chip stack.
Additional info on the event according to the Borgata website:
- Add-On Option 1: Players can add 5,000 chips before playing any hand for a $50 donation.
- Add-On Option 2: At the first break, players can add 10,000 chips for a $100 donation, irrespective of their current chip stack.
- On-site Registration: Opens on Monday, January 1, and closes at the start of Level 9.
- Registration Perk: All Charity Series of Poker Event registrants enjoy a VIP cocktail hour at Level 1, featuring an open bar and appetizers.
- Online Qualifiers: Online registration for the 2024 Borgata Winter Poker Open, powered by BetMGM Poker, is available. Check the BetMGM Poker App for eligible events.
All donations collected in the name of the CSOP will benefit St. Jude.
Why St. Jude matters so much for NJ poker player
St. Jude is personally a strong one for Stout.
“I’m fortunate to work with a lot of great nonprofits, but my work with St. Jude means more to me than any other events I run because I lost a 2 year-old grandnephew to cancer in 2020,” Stout said.
“In addition to having the honor of running the St. Jude event in Vegas that (Daniel) Negreanu founded and asked me to take over, I’ve been asked by the team at the hospital to continue setting up more St. Jude CSOP events on a national level.”
“These events help me honor Baby J’s memory and do what I can to help ease the burden on other families going through what mine went through and supporting research that will hopefully keep childhood cancer survival rates trending in the right direction until St. Jude Founder Danny Thomas’s mission is reached: a world where no child dies in the dawn of life.”
Who is Matt Stout?
Besides being the founder of the CSOP, Matt Stout is a top-notch poker player. Stout is a professional poker player known for his success in various poker tournaments. Born in New Jersey, Stout has made a name for himself in the poker community with solid tournament performances.
He currently has over $4.4 million in tournament wins and is ranked 9th overall for New Jersey players in lifetime wins, according to Hendon Mob. Stout has collected eight World Series of Poker circuit rings to date. Some of his stand out wins include:
- 2013 WSOP: $3,000 NLH-6 Handed, 2nd place, $313,370
- 2009 World Poker Finals: $10,000 NLH Championship, 3rd place, $265,710
- 2012 WSOP: $1,000 NLH, 3rd place, $192,813
- 2014 WPT: $3,500 NLH Championship, 5th place, $308,501
- 2018 WPT: $3,500 NLH, 5th place, $189,880
In 2016, Stout won the Charitable Initiative of the Year at the Global Poker Index’s American Poker Awards for his work with the CSOP. This is due to the over $4 million he has raised for CSOP beneficiaries.
What charities has CSOP benefited?
The Charity Series of Poker has a notable history of supporting various charitable causes. Since 2014, they have benefited many groups locally and worldwide.
Here are just some of the charities the CSOP has benefited:
- Community Food Bank of New Jersey
- Community Food Bank
- Ellie DIPG Research Fund
- FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment)
- Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
- Maximum Hope Foundation
- Support the Kid
- Folded Flag Foundation
- The HIT Living Foundation
- Tyler Robinson Foundation
How can you help the CSOP?
For players interested in supporting these causes and getting involved with the Charity Series of Poker, find more information on their website or reach out to them directly.
All players over the age of 21 are welcome to the Borgata on Jan. 20.
Expect an exciting blend of poker action and philanthropy at this noteworthy event.
