Russell Westbrook’s Charity Poker: Yet Another Fundraiser Table!

Russell Westbrook’s charity poker night returns to Las Vegas on September 18. Discover the venue, the players, and the scholarships behind this glitzy fundraiser.

Poker and basketball rarely share the same spotlight. This September, Russell Westbrook’s charity poker night lands in Las Vegas. The newly retired NBA star hosts his sixth annual fundraiser at Fontainebleau.

Alongside the WPT Foundation, he invites pros, athletes, and curious beginners to play. Better still, the money supports kids in his hometown of South Los Angeles. So, who plays, where does the money go, and how can you prepare? Let’s break it all down. In the meantime, register at any online casino site in the US to play remote poker games!

About Russell Westbrook’s Charity Poker

According to Business Wire, Russell Westbrook will host another poker night this month. He and his wife, Nina, host it through his Why Not? Foundation. Friday, September 18, 2026 marks the date for this sixth edition. Moreover, the whole night supports a cause bigger than any pot. So, what exactly is this thing? Put simply, it’s a charity tournament with a star-studded guest list.

Westbrook started the Why Not? Foundation back in 2012. Since then, the nonprofit has focused on young people in South Los Angeles. That neighborhood is his hometown, and it clearly still matters to him. Its work centers on education, workforce training, and mental health support. Those three pillars show up in nearly every program. The poker night, however, has grown into the foundation’s signature fundraiser. Over five editions, it has raised more than $2 million. Every dollar goes toward the foundation’s mission. Honestly, that’s no small potatoes for a single evening of cards each year. Register at Ignition Casino to start playing online poker!

His 6th Annual Poker Night

Russell Westbrook’s charity poker is nothing new. And yet, people who are too late to the 2026 WSOP can now experience yet another experienced, professional poker event under ‘why not?’

Fontainebleau opened in 2023 without a poker room at all. Therefore, this charity night brings the first poker event to the property. Card Player reported that detail, and it made us grin. Imagine being among the first people to shuffle chips in that building. That’s a pretty neat story to tell your friends back home. Poker players love a fresh room, and this one comes brand new.

So how does this compare to the WSOP? Obviously, nobody claims a charity night matches the Main Event in scale. The WSOP draws thousands of entrants chasing life-changing money. Here, however, the vibe leans closer to a VIP party with real purpose. Yet the structure still feels professional from the first deal. Plus, beginners can actually play without feeling totally lost. It’s the perfect consolation prize for anyone who skipped the summer grind.

WPT Foundation Partner: Russell Westbrook’s Charity Poker

According to the WPT Foundation, its partnership with Westbrook goes back several years. Back in 2024, the two groups joined forces for the fourth edition. That night took place at Wynn Las Vegas on September 13. Ever since, the WPT name has stuck right beside the Why Not? banner. Card players trust the WPT logo, and athletes seem to trust it too. In our eyes, it’s a match that makes a ton of sense.

The charity side came a decade later. WPT launched its foundation in 2012, the same year Westbrook launched his. Pretty wild coincidence, right? Since its launch, the WPT Foundation has raised over $50 million. That money came from more than 50 separate charity events. Its focus covers human rights, education, world hunger, and the environment. Education, clearly, overlaps nicely with what Westbrook wants for South LA kids. Maybe some partnerships are simply meant to happen.

Raising Scholarships

Russell Westbrook’s charity poker is an actual charity. According to the OKC Thunder Wire, Westbrook isn’t riding quietly into the sunset. Instead, the 37-year-old keeps giving back to fans and local communities. The outlet describes Poker Night as a regular part of his charity work. Thunder fans, naturally, remember that stubborn work ethic very well. He spent 11 seasons in Oklahoma City and won MVP there. Now that same drive fuels something far bigger than basketball.

At the 2024 Poker Night, the foundation played a video about its growth. That clip highlighted Westbrook Academy, which serves over 400 students in South LA. It also spotlighted the Changing Lives from Scratch Fund. That fund aims to deliver grants and scholarships to over 10,000 kids. Ten thousand kids! Let that number sink in for a moment. That’s roughly a small town’s worth of futures.

How Many Players? – Russell Westbrook’s Charity Poker

There will be various people: poker pros, poker-playing athletes, and casuals. There will be over 50 players in the joint. Not everyone in the room will hold cards, though. Plenty of guests come simply to watch, mingle, and cheer on friends. Spectators actually outnumbered players by a wide margin at the fifth edition. That audience creates a buzzing, almost courtside energy around the tables. On the mic, Drea Renee and Vince Van Patten keep the room entertained. Nobody, trust us, will sit bored in a corner.

So how does a field this mixed actually play out? Everyone competes in one tournament until a final table forms. From there, finalists battle for the top spot and first pick of prizes. Everyone else picks next, based on where they finished. In 2025, the prize list included Canelo vs. Crawford fight tickets. Another reward offered a Bentley weekend with a Wynn stay. Better yet, every finalist earned free admission to this year’s event.

Where To Practice Poker Online?

This is everything about Russell Westbrook’s charity poker. If you enjoy watching the WSOP final table, perhaps this is your best chance to finally participate in a real tournament. If not yet, then this is your call to start practicing for next year! So where should a beginner actually start? Free play money apps, in our opinion, make the easiest first step. You can learn hand rankings and betting rounds without risking a cent. The official WSOP app, for instance, uses virtual chips instead of real money. WPT also runs its own online poker platforms, depending on your location. Because these games feel low pressure, you can experiment with different styles. However, playing money tables can build some sloppy habits.

People shove all-in constantly when nothing real is at stake. Thus, try to play every hand as if real chips mattered. Playing alone won’t make you great, though. Watching WPT and WSOP broadcasts with a critical eye helps a lot. Pause the stream and guess what the pro will do next. Then compare your choice with theirs and figure out why they differ. Doug Polk and other coaches also share tons of free content on YouTube. Fun fact: a private lesson with him appeared among last year’s prizes. Register at Ignition Casino to try online poker for real cash!

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