There are a lot of opportunities and possibilities for The Venetian to have involvement in these large poker events. Our goal right now is to have a room that will gain a large following.

Obviously, we hope to attract some of the top professional players. Some of these poker professionals have become rock stars, so we hope they come and check out our room.

If you ask me, poker is the new extreme sport.

[World Champion poker player, Phil Hellmuth, Jr., will host these online events.] As with 9/11 and the Asian tsunami, watching television coverage of Katrina is incredibly upsetting. I asked myself what I could do to help. Having so many celebrity friends prepared to help has warmed my heart as I continued to reach out and ask for more assistance, ... I believe our efforts will make a difference.

Steve Lipscomb had the vision and foresight to create the World Poker Tour, one of the important events that launched the current poker boom. Along with Jeffery Pollack, who runs the oldest and most respected poker tour, Lipscomb will reveal the global reach of the game and how it is penetrating international markets.

Education has to point toward a career, and this is exactly what is happening in these events.