WSOP names One Drop official charity

The Big One for One Drop, a $1 million buy-in tournament scheduled to take place at the 2012 World Series of Poker, could very well be the most hyped poker tournament in the game’s history. With the exorbitant buy-in bringing a veritable who’s who list from the world of poker and business moguls; the charitable aspect of the tournament making the tournament a feel-good story; and the richest prize-pool in the history poker; the Big One for One Drop has everything you would want for a good story.

With players announcing their intentions to play in the tournament, and the WSOP recognizing the event as an official bracelet event at the 2012 WSOP (complete with a specially crafted Platinum WSOP Bracelet set to be awarded to the winner) there is no shortage of coverage for the event, and adding even more fuel to the Big One fire was today’s announcement that the One Drop charity will be the official charity of the World Series of Poker.

“ONE DROP is doing important and impactful work and we intend to do what we can to help their efforts,” said Mitch Garber, CEO, Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. (owners of the WSOP) said in as press release located on the WSOP.com website.  “The water crisis is a worldwide issue and with the WSOP’s global reach, we believe this is a great fit for our company.”

The WSOP will work hand in hand with the charity to raise awareness, educate people on its mission, and direct funds to the charity. As part of their partnership the WSOP will ask “all players who cash in any WSOP event will be asked to go All In for ONE DROP by donating one percent of their winnings to ONE DROP.”

One Drop is the brain-child of Cirque de Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, who helped organize the event and will be a participant in the $1,000,000 buy-in tournament. Laliberte created the One Drop charity to raise awareness and bring clean drinking water to every corner of the globe.

“I am very grateful to both the World Series of Poker and Caesars Entertainment for choosing ONE DROP and enabling a ripple effect with the poker community,” said Guy Laliberté, ONE DROP’s Chair and Cirque du Soleil® Founder.  “They support the work of ONE DROP and are part of the All in For ONE DROP initiatives. With everyone’s help the dream of water for all is achievable.”

According to their press release the WSOP will also engage in the following initiatives to help raise awareness and funds for One Drop:

• BIG ONE for ONE DROP poker tournament (July 1-3) with $111,111 per buy-in going to ONE DROP, and waiving of fees to staff and host event with final table to be carried live on ESPN on July 3.
• Awarding of two seats into the BIG ONE for ONE DROP ($2 million commitment from Caesars Entertainment/CIE)
• Hosting a $25,300 Mega Satellite poker tournament on June 30 at Rio to fulfill CIE commitment, with CIE guaranteeing seat
• 1% for ONE DROP – For all players who cash, an opportunity to make a 100% tax-deductible donation
• Providing ONE DROP with a booth at Rio to raise awareness on water-related issues
• Water fact messaging added to water bottle service during tournament to raise awareness and encourage players to purchase a reusable bottle
• Installation of water stations throughout tournament footprint to encourage players to refill their reusable water bottle.
• Signage/branding throughout tournament