Russell Westbrook Hosted Annual Las Vegas Charity Poker
The star athlete raised nearly $1 million for youth programs through his sixth-annual charity tournament.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Casino
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Russell Westbrook hosted his sixth-annual charity poker tournament at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. The event successfully raised nearly $1 million to support the Why Not? Foundation.
Why it matters
The tournament provides significant capital for the Why Not? Foundation, which focuses on empowering young people through various community initiatives. These funds contribute to a total of nearly $3 million raised by the organization over the past six years.
The tournament raised nearly $1 million this year, contributing to a six-year cumulative total of nearly $3 million. Participants paid a $10,000 entry fee to join the event, which featured a partnership with the World Poker Tour.
The players
Russell Westbrook
He is a professional basketball player who established the Why Not? Foundation to support community youth development.
Why Not? Foundation
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to empowering young people and provides resources for underserved communities.
World Poker Tour
This international poker organization operates a series of high-stakes tournaments and television events.
Phil Ivey
He is a professional poker player who is widely considered one of the best players in the history of the game.
DeAndre Jordan
He is a professional basketball player who has played in the NBA for over 15 years.
The details
Held at the Poodle Room inside the Fontainebleau, the event drew several professional poker players and professional athletes, including Phil Ivey and DeAndre Jordan. Michail Grigorev emerged as the winner of the high-stakes poker tournament.
Timeline
The sixth-annual charity poker event took place in September 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This event follows the established annual pattern set by the six-year history of the Why Not? Foundation poker tournament. It reflects a growing trend of professional athletes leveraging high-stakes gaming partnerships to drive large-scale charitable fundraising efforts.
While the $10,000 entry fee limits direct tournament participation to high-net-worth individuals and professional players, the event's scale highlights the growing intersection of professional sports and organized casino gaming. Fans can monitor the foundation website for future opportunities to donate or participate in smaller-scale community outreach programs.
The takeaway
Large-scale charity events organized by celebrities rely on strong partnerships with established professional gaming organizations to ensure operational success. These tournaments demonstrate how niche industries like professional poker can be effectively leveraged to achieve significant social impact.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest high-stakes events in the Las Vegas sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pokernews.
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