Card Rooms and Players Are Rallying to Raise Funds for Ukraine
Dusk Till Dawn, one of Europe’s premier poker playing venues, situated in Nottingham, England, is one of the very few card rooms or casinos that has announced plans to aid struggling Ukrainians.
Pulling together: Casino owner and poker player Leon Tsoukernik has provided shelter for 500 Ukrainian refugees. ©Wikipedia/Hkaralahti
The venue, which opened in 2007, is privately owned by businessman Rob Yong. Last week the keen poker player took to Twitter to announce plans to deliver supplies into the war-torn country.
Seeking cash donations or supplies from Dusk Till Dawn members, Yong has vowed to match donations by up to £10,000.
In a short video, Yong explained the decision to send aid to the besieged country had been made following approaches from club members.
A staff member – Krystian, who originates from Poland and has been cleaning at Dusk Till Dawn for ten years – will make the journey into Ukraine to deliver the donated and purchased supplies.
Dear DTD members,you suggested we support Ukraine,so Krystian is driving from DTD to Ukraine delivering aidhttps://t.co/hoOoQgnvmW will donate £10,000 or shortfall
2.Can donate Cashdesk or @luxonpay or this linkhttps://t.co/5RB8ewPwpc
3.Drop items off at DTD
KTF Rob🙏 pic.twitter.com/hnmNF83ga2
— Rob Yong (@rob_yong_) March 10, 2022
Charity Begins in a Poker Tournament
In Ireland, Dublin’s Sporting Emporium – owned by billionaire businessman and financier Dermot Desmond – is another poker venue that is raising funds for the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis.
This Tuesday, the Irish Red Cross’ Ukraine appeal will benefit from a €100 Texas Hold’em tournament. It begins at 8.15 pm.
The venue will only retain €5 of the €15 registration fee acquired from each competition entry. An additional €20 will be taken from players’ €85 stake, every rebuy and their €40 add-ons.
There is an additional bucket collection on the night – all money raised here will also go directly to the charity.
High Stakes Players Become Big Givers
On a larger scale, Leon Tsoukernik owner of the Kings Casino and Poker Room in Czechia, is using his personal funds to cater for 500 refugees in the Czech town of Mariánské Lázně.
Tsoukernik has reportedly commissioned local hotels and apartments to house displaced Ukrainian families. His generosity extends to providing three meals a day. He is also helping people obtain legal refugee status and find work.
Another high-profile poker-playing businessman and philanthropist, Tony Guoga, has announced his charitable foundation is co-operating with volunteers of the Lithuanian Gediminas Legion to rescue children in Ukrainian orphanages.
In the early days of the conflict, Guoga declared his luxury Tonyresort in Lithuania would be thrown open to Ukrainian families that were seeking refuge.
More recently, the 48-year-old former member of the European Parliament has generated funds for Ukrainians in need via fundraising poker tournaments played at an online crypto gambling site that he founded in 2018.
