Bodog Beat

Bodog Poker pro Justin Bonomo sat down at a table with rapper Nelly during the Ante Up For Africa Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament. (Bodog Beat Image)

Well, it's been a star-studded afternoon at the Rio as the celebrity-ridden Ante Up For Africa charity poker tournament took place with its requisite red carpet fiasco, paparazzi-style media and obsessed fans. Can you tell how much we love this event?

Anyway, no matter what we think of the madness surrounding the tournament itself, the charities which it benefits – Refugees International and The Enough Project, both which focus on the situation in Darfur, Sudan – are definitely worth the effort. There were many A through D-List celebrities who ponied up the $5,000 buy-in/donation to support the efforts of these charities as well as a lot of well-known poker pros, including Bodog Poker pro Justin Bonomo.

Also on hand to play were Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Charles Barkley, Brad Garrett, Mike Tyson, Nelly, Sarah Silverman and Jason Alexander. As the structure for this event is ridiculously fast, we almost have a final table already, and predictably most of those left are the ones who play poker for a living.

We have the Bodog Social tonight at the Kingpin Fantasy Suite at the Palms Hotel for those who were lucky enough to qualify for the 2009 WSOP through Bodog. Don't expect much from us tonight as we'll be drinking partying hanging with Bodog Girls working. If you want to attend exclusive Bodog events and live the Bodog lifestyle in vegas, then check out the Bodog Mini Poker Series and go ahead and lock up a spot in the 2010 WSOP Main Event with Team Bodog.