WSOP Players Donate over $1.3 Million to One Drop

This year’s World Series of Poker featured a total prize pool of $197 million but it is not only the in the money finishers and bracelet holders, who profited from the 44th annual WSOP; players’ contributions made it possible for around 13,000 people to get access to clean water.

Antonio Esfandiari and Guy Laliberté

The goodwill of all the players, who decided to contribute to the charity fund that benefits the One Drop foundation, made it possible for around 13,000 people to gain access to clean and safe water in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This is the result of a $1,111,111 fundraising campaign called All-In for One Drop, which now stands well over its goal with a fund of $1,327,206 assembled from two tournaments and additional individual donations.

The cooperation between the WSOP and the One Drop foundation exists since 2012 and it already featured Big One for One Drop event winner Antonio Esfandiari visiting the ongoing, sustainable water access projects in Latin America. The campaign continues with WSOP November Nine members and future WSOPC winners being asked to donate 1% of their winnings to the foundation and it will culminate in the next Big One event in the schedule of WSOP 2014.

Since the agreement between the World Series and Big One, a total of almost $7 million has been donated by players to the cause. This includes two tournaments from this year’s schedule as well, the $111,111 One Drop High Rollers and the Little One for One Drop events. With 166 participants, the former became the largest live tournament ever with a buy-in of over $100,000. In addition, the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, which played host to the event, offered the 3% house fee, a total of $553,278 to the fund, while the 4,756 players, who entered the Little One event, contributed another $527,916.

"We continue to be extremely proud of the poker community's generosity and enthusiasm. The marriage of prestigious events and philanthropy has generated nearly seven million dollars in WSOP donations to One Drop in less than two years – a remarkable achievement," Caesars CEO Mitch Garber said.

$246,012 was amassed from private contributions in the All in for One Drop campaign and last year’s Big One alone was able to raise $5.6 million.

"Again, we have created history! I am thankful to WSOP for their dedication and to the poker community for their generosity. The real winners are the people for which One Drop will provide access to safe water. These families can break the cycle of poverty and have hope for a better future. Together we have shown the world once again how giving the poker community is and that the ripple effect continues on," Cirque du Soleil and One Drop head Guy Laliberté commented.