Online PokerAs I was wondering how NL Texas Hold’em could increase its popularity to different types of people, it finally came to me: more charity tournaments with star studded fields.

In fact I believe this would benefit poker so much that the game would be raised to a whole new level.  The whole dirty, undercover, despicable taint image of gambling or online gaming might be let off the hook.  Imagine Oprah playing poker for cancer, or Arnold S. playing some NL Hold’em to save the California red woods...

All in all, charity tournaments pose no threat to the game in any way shape or form.  Only positive outcomes will result from these tournaments.  If the stars play, the cameras and press will follow, thus poker will be exposed to greater heights.

Todd Brunson is debating on hosting a poker charity tournament for cancer research.  I say go for it Todd.  You have nothing to lose!  In fact, the Brunson name will gain more respect if you indeed to go along with it.
If you play a 100+100 MTT where half to winnings go to a non profit research center, or any other agency looking to better the world's community, then I definitely see positive reaction from all over the world and poker community. 

Picture this: get the "gambling aspect" away from poker, and make it a more family friendly game.  Poker has a reputation as being a luck game, in which players drink, smoke, cheat and even lose there life away. To clean up this horrible poker image of NL Hold’em', charity events can be the cure.

Here are a few MTT- NL Hold’em tournaments that might catch the camera's eye and the publics’ heart.

1. Brad and Angelina host a Tournament in L.A for African Adoption and well-being.
2. A poker tournament held to help raise money for the troops.
3. A cancer research tournament.
4. An HIV/Aids research tournament.
5. Sea and wildlife preserve tournaments.

The list is endless, and the sky is literally the limit...  One could go on and on and the list could grow immense.

Charity events help gain pathos and attention.  People will recognize that poker and its players are trying to do a good deed for the community or humanization; not just gambling away like crazy fools.

Keep the charity poker tournaments going, televise them, and make there presence known.