Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Haiti Quake Relief: The Gambling Industry Steps UP

As we all know, Haiti has been devastated by the recent earthquake. Millions are homeless. Food is almost non-existent. People are lying injured in the streets. Dead bodies are piled up in the streets as well. Without immediate and massive aid, many more will die from hunger, illness and disease. Complete cities, towns and villages have been reduced to rubble! These people have nothing but the clothes on their backs.

In an unprecedented show of support and compassion, the online gambling industry has come together in an effort to raise millions of dollars in donations. To kick off the campaign, Calvin Ayre (founder of Bodog) has pledged to match all donations from gambling related businesses up to $1 million. To donate and take advantage of Calvin's generosity please use this link!

From Calvin Ayre's Blog:
It is a disaster in Haiti. I know they have had a tough go from Mother Nature recently, hurricanes and now this earth quake, but I can not help but be disgusted with the ruling elite that has driven this country down like this while, no doubt, filling their own pockets. That all said the innocents as always are paying a horrendous price for this elite thievery and I think the global online gaming community has a duty to do something.

I have asked my Foundation to send and £10,000 to UK based Oxfam to help with Hatian relief efforts.

But that’s not all…I also want to challenge the rest of this industry to also contribute to Oxfam to help out in Haiti…and my private foundation will match any proven payment to Oxfam by an online gaming person up to $1,000,000.

Lets go guys….everyone making money has a duty to help.

For more information please visit the Calvin Ayre Foundation.

Many Others are stepping up to help as well. Sportsbook.com have issued a challenge to their players and customer:

HELP FOR HAITI
We’ll match every donation made, dollar for dollar

Sportsbook.com is teaming up with Medical Teams International to provide relief for earthquake victims in Haiti and we need your help.

Join us in aiding the victims of this tragedy and we’ll match every donation made, dollar for dollar.

To help, make a donation
by filling out and submitting the form below. Donated funds will be withdrawn from your account and we will follow up your donation with one of the same amount.


CasinoMeister issued a plea to their members and to the industry for help:

The folks in Haiti really need our help. I've set up a relief fund at Casinomeister via Paypal. All members can donate to this fund (min $10 - max - $whatever you can afford$). We're running this until the end of next week and making the donation to Oxfam.org

The great thing about this is that Calvin Arye has stated that he will match our total donation up to $1 million.

The donations page is here:
http://www.casinomeister.com/forums/misc.php?do=donate

Within the next couple of days I'll be setting up a leaders board so that everyone can see who is donating and for how much.

Casino operators - let's step up to the plate and see what you can do.

More information here:
http://www.casinomeister.com/forums/...i-relief-fund/

Cheers!

Bryan


Pokerstars is matching donations:

The devastating earthquake in Haiti, feared to have killed tens of thousands, has had most of us thinking we'd like to help in some way. PokerStars has been quick to facilitate this after previous disasters, and once again it is giving you an easy way to donate cash.

PokerStars players are some of the most generous people around, and already thousands have donated within hours of the appeal launch. All the money raised will go straight to the Red Cross to help it's relief efforts in the stricken Caribbean nation - and PokerStars has pledged to match every dollar raised.

The appeal is running until noon on January 31, and here's how you can get involved:

- In the PokerStars lobby, go to Tourney >> Special and enter one of the dummy 'Haiti Earthquake Relief' tournaments listed there. 'Buy-ins' range from $1,000 all the way down to $1. You will not need to play an actual tournament, instead all of the 'entry fees' go straight to the fund.

- Alternatively you can make a private player transfer for any amount to the account 'Haiti Fund'. Go to 'Requests' in the client top menu and select 'Transfer Funds'.

PokerStars thanks all of you for your support.


Every donation is important!! Whether you send $10, $100 or $1,000, your donation is desperately needed!

Please donate today! Haiti needs you!

No comments: