Brad Garret to MC Awards Gala

LOS ANGELES – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Bodog.com is proud to announce it has secured world famous television star and noted celebrity poker player Brad Garrett to be Master of Ceremonies at Card Player Magazine's Player of the Year Awards Show Gala.

Set for February 15, 2006 at the Music Box Theater in downtown Hollywood, the gala event will be attended by the top rounders and luminaries from the poker world, as well as numerous celebrity poker players and fans. The show, which Bodog.com is producing and sponsoring, will take place prior to the World Poker Tour's LA Classic.

After getting his first break with a $100,000 Star Search win in 1984, Garrett honed his poker skills in Las Vegas, where he also performed in the biggest rooms and won the Las Vegas Review Journal's Best Comedian Working on the Strip honor in 1989. In 1996, he created the signature role of Robert Barone, the character from "Everybody Loves Raymond". During the hit sit-coms 10-season run, Garrett won three Emmy Awards. At the 2005 World Series of Poker, Garrett rebounded from his performance in the main event -- where he lasted only nine hours -- to make the final table in the concurrent celebrity and NBA player charity tournament at The Mirage.

"We are thrilled to have a household name like Brad Garrett MC the Card Player Player of the Year Awards, one of the hottest events in poker," says the event's host, Bodog Founder and CEO Calvin Ayre. "With Brad and the other top poker names and celebrities expected to attend, this event will be an exciting addition to the Hollywood awards season."

"With Bodog.com's sponsorship, the Card Player Player of the Year Awards Show Gala will have high production values and top celebrities, like Brad Garrett," says Card Player Publisher Barry Shulman. "We are looking forward to working with Bodog.com on the Awards Gala to bring more exposure to the stars of poker, the players." Bodog.com is poised to make a big splash at the Player of the Year Awards Gala. Sure to attend are Bodog's sponsored pro players Josh Arieh and David Williams. Look for further announcements as celebrity presenters and other details are confirmed.