Actor Bryan Cranston was tapped to host a charity poker tournament that will sure to attracted some of the biggest celebrities and Hollywood power players. The tournament will benefit the Entertainment Community Fund and proceeds will be used to help support film and television workers who have been financially hurt by the writer’s strike.
Taking place Nov. 12, at the Candela La Brea, a Los Angeles restaurant and event center, buy-ins start at $2,500 and go up — way up — to $100,000 for the top packages that include multiple seats, double the starting stacks, rebuys, and even felt with their names on the tables.
Cranson has appeared in mostly television shows for over 30 years, but is known best as Walter White, the chemistry teacher turned ruthless drug kingpin in “Breaking Bad.”
A poker fan, Cranson was also part of a long-running casual poker game filled with actors that takes place Wednesdays and competed in the classic show “Celebrity Poker Showdown” in 2005, finishing second for $5,000. He even has a Hendon Mob entry for the $5,000 he won for his charity of choice, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In a terrible twist of irony, the actor who beat him heads-up, Stephen Collins, was drummed out of the business after admitting to his wife that he exposed himself to children. Still, with Howie Mandel, Peter Dinklage, and Meat Loaf at the same table, it’s a good episode.
As poker gains in popularity again, celebrities are beginning to come back to the game, as was the case at this year’s World Series of Poker.
Bringing in big bucks
Anyone can play in the tournament, but the cost to even get through the door to watch and party is $1,000 — to play is $2,500. It rockets skyward from there. Check out what many stars and industry insiders will put up to help the workers who have gone months without wages during the current writer’s strike.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Presenting Sponsor at $100,000 includes:
- Up to 36 poker seats and 20 non-player tickets
- Automatic double starting stack for each guest
- One complimentary re-buy for each guest
- Top tier logo placement on event signage (digital, plus select on-site print signage)
- Recognition as Presenting Sponsor during spoken program at event and in available press opportunities
- Custom felt and dealer button (one per table)
- Guarantee that branded table will be one of last tables in play
- Additional customized benefits based on sponsor needs
All-In Sponsor at $50,000 includes:
- Up to 18 poker seats and 8 non-player tickets
- Automatic double starting stack for each guest
- One complimentary re-buy for each guest
- Top tier logo placement on event signage (digital, plus select on-site print signage)
- Recognition as Presenting Sponsor during spoken program at event and in available press opportunities
- Custom felt and dealer button (one per table)
- Guarantee that branded table will be one of last tables in play
- Additional customized benefits based on sponsor needs
Tables
Reserve your table by Friday, October 27 and receive additional starting chips
Royal Flush at $25,000 includes:
- 9 poker seats and 6 non-player tickets
- Premium logo placement on event signage (digital, plus select on-site print signage)
Straight Flush at $15,000 includes:
- 6 poker seats and 4 non-player tickets
- Prime logo placement on event signage (digital, plus select on-site print signage)
Four-of-a-Kind at $10,000 includes:
- 4 poker seats
- Prominent logo placement on event signage (digital, plus select on-site print signage)
Tickets
High Card Individual Ticket: $2,500
Guest Ticket (Non-playing): $1,000
For more information, or to buy tickets, click here.