PokerStars Macau Opens with Earthquake Charity Tournament

May 28 2008, Daniel McCarthy

Macau's first live poker room opened last week with a special Earthquake Charity tournament for victims of the recent earthquake in Western China.

The Grand Waldo Hotel and Casino plays host to this brand new poker room. It promises to offer cash games and regular tournaments in the 250 player capacity area.

Joe Hachem, Poker World Champion and member of Team PokerStars Pro' said: "PokerStars is committed to the development of poker in Asia. Although Macau has overtaken Las Vegas as the gaming capital of the world, it was only with the incredible success of the Asia Pacific Poker tour last November that Texas Hold'em poker started growing there. PokerStars planted the seeds and now this beautiful Poker room is going to be the garden where future champions learn to play. I wouldn't be surprised if the next World Champion comes from Macau or elsewhere in China."

Gary Woollard, General Manager of Grand Waldo Casino enthused: "The arrival of poker as a gaming option in Macau's casinos will encourage more people to come and enjoy all Macau has to offer. We are delighted to have a company with the reputation of PokerStars to manage what is sure to be a very successful and popular poker room."

Jeffrey Haas, President of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour, said: "Poker has grown tremendously in Asia and we are very excited to be driving that growth, particularly as we were the first to produce live poker in Macau. After the success of the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour last November, a tremendous poker boom has resulted in Hong Kong and Macau – but it's just starting. The significance of the PokerStars Macau poker room on Asia will likely parallel the effect that Chris Moneymaker had on the USA when he won the 2003 WSOP."

The earthquake charity tournament was the first event of the Macau Poker Cup which includes a $1,000 HKD buy-in Deep-Stack event, the $10,000 buy-in Red Dragon event and the first of many satellites to the Asia Pacific Poker Tour's second season's events.

Ed note: For more information on the Pokerstars Macau Poker Room, visit PokerStars.com

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