Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007

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Poker players give back for Christmas

By Sarah Polson

The spirit of giving that characterizes Christmas was evident at the Casino Arizona Dec. 15 as 361 poker players donated nearly 1,000 toys during the Christmas Toy Drive No-Limit Hold'em Tournament.

As part of the entry fee for the tournament, players donated a new, unwrapped toy to the children of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

"Each year the Toy Drive Poker Tournament continues to be popular among Casino Arizona guests, and thanks to their generosity, this holiday season will be brighter for local children as we provide them with nearly 1,000 toys," said Kent Odekirk, Casino Arizona poker director.

"The success of this annual event indicates that our guests really enjoy the opportunity to give back in a fun way."

The generous poker players who donated toys all played for a guaranteed $12,500 prize pool, with the top 40 players getting paid. The tournament played on at the Casino Arizona until the 13 final players split the prize money, taking home $830 each.

"Casino Arizona places great importance on giving back to the community, and the Toy Drive Tournament is a wonderful way for our guests to get involved," Odekirk said prior to the tournament. "We could not be more appreciative of their generosity each year."

Related Article: 'Tis the Season for Giving at Casino Arizona

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