Shannon Elizabeth throws Australian poker tantrum

Shannon Elizabeth at the 2007 World Series of Poker.

Actress Shannon Elizabeth is garnering bad press Down Under after reportedly snapping at organizers of a poker tournament and intentionally busting out of a celebrity event after one hand.

The American Pie starlet and PokerStars.com pro is in Australia to compete in the Victorian Poker Championship, running until Aug. 6.

Elizabeth arrived at the Crown Casino in Melbourne on Tuesday night, according to reports from the Herald Sun, Australia's top-selling newspaper. After organizers told her she was expected to talk to the media and mingle with other celebrities at the event, the "flustered" actress got visibly upset with the tournament representatives, the paper reports.

Despite posing for a few photographs before playing in the celebrity event, Elizabeth said she had no idea she was committed to do the press.

Once the tournament - attended by 2005 World Series of Poker champion Joe Hachem and Australian notables Nathan Buckley, Sam Mitchell and Campbell Brown - was underway, Elizabeth made it clear her interests were elsewhere.

After being dealt her first hand, Elizabeth pushed all-in and busted from the tournament after her cards didn't make the grade. She then left the room to play in a more lucrative game elsewhere in the casino, the Herald Sun reports.

She reappeared at the event to catch up with some friends and, later that evening, was spotted with Emad Tahtouh, an Australian poker pro with whom Elizabeth is said to have connected while attending the Aussie Millions in January, according to the paper.

Earlier in the week, Elizabeth was stopped while trying to enter an Australian casino to play in a Victorian Poker Championship event. Despite being a celebrity player, the actress was denied entry to the casino after forgetting her identification.

She told a security guard her name and age - 33 - but the guard still refused to let her in until she provided the necessary ID.

Like her acting credentials, Elizabeth's poker accomplishments are still on the skimpy side. Nonetheless, the emerging poker player is showing promise after finishing third in the NBC heads-up tournament in March for a $125,000 cash.

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