National Poker League Launches Charity Poker Tour at Paris Open

The National Poker League (NPL) and FundRaisers.com are joining forces to launch a unique effort appropriately coined the NPL Charity Group.

The organizations announced the formation of The Charity Poker Tour to be held at every 2007 NPL World Open venue, kicking off with the upcoming Paris Open. As the first tournament of the 2007 circuit, the Paris Open will be May 13-22, 2007 with an estimated prize pool of $3.5 million euros plus $125,000 (euros) added money. The tournament is expected to reach Europe's highest attendance where all players will also be invited to enjoy an exclusive VIP Charity Gala.

Host casino Cercle Gaillon will welcome the players for the Paris Open at which NPL has created the ultimate poker experience, offering players the opportunity to play and appear in any of the six 1-hour television episodes from each tour stop that will be aired to more than 350 million households worldwide. The charities will be featured on TV on all televised markets. The National Poker League is the only poker television series produced in high definition.

The NPL Charity Group is committed to giving back to the community. The organization designed this poker circuit with charities along with local associations and organizations in mind, aiming to help meet the needs of fundraisers for their causes. Annie Van Bebber, Founder of Fundraisers.com has been tracking and reporting on the phenomenon of charity poker tournaments and after meeting with NPL comments "We believe that with the growth of charity poker tournaments and auctions, along with the popularity of poker shows on television, that this combination will help to raise awareness for the charities and funds for their causes," according to Ms. Van Bebber.

Along with NPL and Fundraisers.com, charity sponsors include Louis Vuitton, Dior, TF1 TV Group, UUU, SBM, Patron Spirits and Le Queenie, the club hosting the gala party. Media and venue sponsors are Le Queenie, Hotel California-Paris, Bluff magazine, Bluff Europe, and PokerNews.com.

The VIP Charity Gala will hold a Live auction with auctioneer M. Frederic Chambre from Pierre Berge to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Items up for auction are a one of a kind poker chip set from Louis Vuitton (LVMH group), a one of a kind Dior Watch engraved and sponsored from Cercle Gaillon, a package for the Grand Prix de Monaco (Formula sponsored by the French Channel TF1, package of 3 cards (2 VIP and 1 platinum) from UUU concierge service, a unique crystal bottle of Tequila sponsored from Patron, a weekend package in Monte Carlo at L'Hotel de Paris + dinner for 2 sponsored from SBM and a package for the NPL UK open in London in August sponsored by the NPL.