Poker Fans Chipping in for Charity

BOSTON, Massachusetts – As reported by the Boston Globe: "At a room inside the Big Dog Sports Zone in Lynnfield, 120 players gathered around green-felt tables. They sat 10 to a table, and had paid $200 a head for the privilege. The vast majority were male, and some wore sunglasses and hoods, like their counterparts on television.

"This was Texas Hold 'Em Poker, for a good cause. The tournament was staged by Lynn-based Branch 7 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Even with a $200 entry fee, tourney director Danny Angelopolus (known to friends as Danny Angel) said that after taking out a series of small ads in a Boston paper, it sold out quickly.

"…'I've done casino nights for many years, but this is the hottest thing I've ever seen,' said Angelopolus, whose tournament netted $13,000 after expenses.

"…Andover's Tony Capone, whose company rents tables, chips, and other equipment to organizers and helps run tournaments with the aid of volunteers from the host organization, said the company has been involved in fund-raisers in Andover, Dracut, Lawrence, Methuen, Hanson, and Salem, N.H. Tomorrow night, it's scheduled to assist at a fund-raiser for Newburyport Youth Hockey, at Newburyport City Hall.

"After observing the game's popularity, Licciardi called the attorney general's office to check the legal requirements (similar to rules regulating casino nights) for running a poker tournament.

"…He's received calls from many nonprofit organizations, he said, including the Salisbury-based Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lower Merrimack Valley, which ran a tournament earlier this month that drew 240 players and raised approximately $20,000 in net receipts, according to Danielle Salvatore, administrative assistant at the club. The organization has another tournament planned for March 5

"…Many other players mentioned the charitable aspect, echoing the sentiment expressed by Middleton's Dolly Shapiro, 66, that 'it's a fun night out and it's going to a good cause.'…"