WSOP designates ONE DROP as its official charity

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -– The World Series of Poker (WSOP) announced today that ONE DROP (www.onedrop.org) has been selected as an official charity for the World Series of Poker, the most prestigious gaming event in the world, beginning May 27 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

As an official charity, the WSOP will work with ONE DROP to help educate, raise awareness and direct funds towards the organization that helps provide access to clean water around the world.

“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). “The water crisis is a worldwide issue and with the WSOP’s global reach, we believe this is a great fit for our company.”

One important step is the creation of the BIG ONE for ONE DROP, an official WSOP bracelet event where 11.11 percent of the entry fee will be designated for charity. This event (Event #55 on the schedule) will take place July 1-3, and be historic in every way. The buy-in will be a never-before-attempted $1,000,000 and 30 players have already confirmed their participation. As such, nearly $3.3 million is earmarked for ONE DROP.

In addition, this year 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. All monies will be 100 percent tax-deductible. The All In for ONE DROP campaign is designed to raise awareness on water-related issues and encourage the poker community to take action and create a powerful ripple effect.

“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.”

During the BIG ONE for ONE DROP, select Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas resorts will be participating in a fundraising and in-room communications campaign to generate awareness for the cause. The campaigns message, “A Drop Saved is a Drop Shared,” is centered on the environmental and social impacts water conservation has. As an industry leader in sustainability, the company focuses on critical issues of water, energy, gas and waste through its aggressive CodeGreen sustainability strategy that engages its employee in programs dedicated to reducing the resorts impacts on the environment.

As part of the WSOP-ONE DROP alliance, several other visible initiatives will be on display during this year’s WSOP, including:

• 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
  The 43rd annual World Series of Poker will take place from May 27th to July 16th at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The Main Event will begin on July 7th, with the Final Table being determined on July 16th. The nine players who advance to the Final Table will return to the Rio in October to determine the champion and winner of poker’s ultimate prize.