The Poker Hiphop: Jay-Z

One of the famous hip-hopper, agent, songwriter, businessman and no good poker player Jay-Z, by his real name Shawn Corey Carter, has recently developed a new passion, for which he seems willing to allocate not only time, but also significant amounts of money.




Playing blackjack and poker are his game, beyond his special talent for music which brought significant amounts of money to his personal treasury, Jay-Z has discovered another talent of his: he loves poker and seems to be getting better and better at it.

In 2008, Jay-Z revealed his passion for poker while in London, with the occasion of a tour in UK. Back then he stated that he liked to play at the casinos in London and that he likes playing especially because the press is not always watching him.

Jay-Z considers himself to be an expert with regard to gambling and he thinks that he is difficult to defeat in poker or blackjack.

“I am a pretty good player, almost professional. I won’t give names because I don’t want to ruin it all, but there are here (i.e. in London) all sorts of private clubs in West End, where you can go and play and where the atmosphere is super cool”, said Jay-Z.

His passion for poker is also shared by the rapper’s wife, Beyonce Knowles. The diva prefers the casino Fifty, a location where neither she nor her husband is in short supply of thousands of dollars to spend at the playing poker.

Jay-Z is not famous only for his talent at poker, but also for the colossal losses registered on account of his passion. The most notorious news about Jay-Z is the one referring to the loss of nearly one million dollars on a single hand of poker in Las Vegas, at the end of 2008.

With all these, with an estimated personal fortune of $547 million, it’s not hard to see that the amount lost did not represent that much and that high-stake gambling are not a problem for the rapper. Moreover, the rapper would be extremely interested of opening his own casino in Vegas, an area which he visited many times next to Beyonce. It seems that Jay-Z intends to extend his business from Atlantic City, the 40/40 club, and to turn it into a location for gambling.

Like most celebrities keen on gambling, Jay-Z is no stranger to poker tours for charity purposes in which many important names from all fields of activity, especially show-biz, take part.

Even more, the rapper even organized together with the star of the “Yankees” team, Alex Rodriguez, a poker tour for celebrities in his club in New York, with the purpose of raising money for charity. The celebrities to take part in the event included Nelly, Ashanti, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, Dj Clue, Anthony Mackie and much more.

Celebrity Poker: Doug Savant

What do celebrities have in common that it seems people just cannot get enough of them. Is it their charisma, good looks, or mass appeal? No matter what their reasons are, people indeed just cannot pass up on their favorite celebrities appearing on television.



Some of these celebrities may know very little about poker, but one way or the other, they may have been hooked into the excitement and fun brought about by the game. It sure is fun to see these wonderful people go at each other for amateur poker supremacy. They may differ in their skills at the game, but they sure provide total entertainment for all their fans as they watch very closely on their idols.

One of the most famous celebrities who happily participated in these celebrity poker tournaments is television actor Doug Savant. Like all the professional actors out there, he has already established himself as a television icon as he appeared in some of the most successful television series. These include a stint at television hits "Melrose Place," "JAG," and the worldwide phenomenon "Desperate Housewives."

Savant's effective portrayal of the different television characters that he played made him a fan-favorite. He also starred in other television programs like "Firefly," "Nip/Tuck," and "24." He appeared in one of the tournaments of the "Celebrity Poker Showdown."

In this tournament, he went against his fellow "Desperate Housewives" actor for a very exciting poker showdown.

In his stint as a celebrity poker Savant played for the Desi Geestman Foundation. This charitable institution aims to help children who are already afflicted by cancer at a very young age.

This foundation also aims to help the families of cancer patients to cope with the condition of their loved ones who are suffering so much from the disease. The charitable institution will also try their best to provide these children with better living conditions.

Celebrity poker events like this provide viewers a chance to see the good side of their favorite stars. Savant showed that to the world by taking part in the event. Hopefully, more and more celebrities will join these charitable functions for a better society.

An innumerable number of people would definitely be pleased with what Savant and the other celebrities have done to help the different charitable groups achieve their humanitarian goals.

Celebrity Poker: Nelly

The poker world is flooded with sportsmen and celebrities from other arenas aiming to make an clash on the poker world. Rappers have yet to fully storm the poker world, although there are signs that things are changing.

Hip-Hop Star, Pimp Juice, Hot in here, Party people and multiplatinum recording artist is part of the changing face of poker that sees more and more celebrities and ex-sportsmen look after into its ranks every year.

Nelly took part in Rolling Stone's celebrity poker tournament, part of the magazine's 40th anniversary celebration. And luckily, won the championship, Nelly showed that he loves poker for the game's sake. He's not in it to get paid. Well, the generous rapper donated his winnings to charity.

Nelly also was invited to be a host to Pokerstars party along with actors Jason Alexander and Lou Diamond Phillips, joined World Series of Poker Champions Peter Eastgate, Joe Hachem, Greg Raymer and Chris Moneymaker on a glittering red carpet.

The great rapper, who has participated in several 2009 World Series of Poker events himself, led the festivities at the Rain Nightclub at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

With a packed guest list, huge crowds and a live performance by Nelly, all following last year's stellar appearance by Dita Von Teese, PokerStars has once again proven that not only does it provide more players than anyone else to the World Series of Poker, but it also throws the best party in Las Vegas.

About Nelly: Born Cornell Haynes, Jr., on November 2, 1974, in St. Louis, Nelly moved with his mother from the inner city to suburban Universal City as a teen.

He became convinced that his gift for rap could be parlayed into a career. He has his own style of rap which he likes to describe as a jazz form of hip-hop.

The first song that Nelly and the St. Lunatics made was Gimmie What You Got. The song "Gimmie What You Got" sold 7,000 units regionally and dominated airwaves, rising to the number one spot on St. Louis' number one hip-hop station.

After that song the St. Lunatics encouraged Nelly to go solo and he did. He signed a record deal with Universal Records. His first album, Country Grammar, was an incredible success, selling 8 million plus copies. "Ride With Me" because one of the most memorable hip-hop tunes of 2001, and in 2002 Nelly repeated his magic with "Hot In Here" off the Nellyville album.

His popularity peaked in summer 2002, when he topped seemingly every Billboard chart possible with his Nellyville album and its lead single, "Hot in Here".

In all, Nelly impressively held the number one spot on ten different Billboard charts the week of Nellyville's release. Few rap artists could boast such numbers, and Nelly surely savored his number one status, particularly after being dismissed as a novelty two summers earlier when he debuted.

Sean Connery And Jennifer Tilly Tops Off For Online Casino Dealer Survey

A new survey has announced, Sean Connery and Jennifer Tilly have the 2 fascinating voices that most people would like to hear as the dealers in their foolproof online casino.

Which man and which woman you'd most like to be the dealer voice in your ideal online casino?

Here's how you voted in the male category:

• 

Sean Connery: 35%

• 

Shane Warne: 25%

• 

Morgan Freeman: 11%

• 

Hugh Jackman: 6%

• 

Geoffrey Rush: 4%

• Others: 19%

And here's the results of the female category:

• 

Jennifer Tilly: 40%

• 

Kylie Minogue: 25%

• 

Nicole Kidman: 11%

• 

Minnie Driver: 8%

• 

Naomi Watts: 7%

• Others: 9%

A new survey has revealed Sean Connery & Jennifer Tilly have the two voices most people would most like to hear as the dealers in their perfect online casino. The world’s perfect online casino would be voiced by Sean Connery and Jennifer Tilly a recent survey has revealed.


The survey, which asked online casino players who they’d choose to be the dealer’s voice in their ideal online casino, was conducted by Casino Trading Post. The 100 respondents opted for the distinctive tones of ex-James Bond charmer Connery and the sexy twang of actress, turned professional poker player, Tilly as the man and woman they’d most like to declare them bust!



Casino Trading Post Spokesman John Simms said, “Our audience is predominantly Australian and it just goes to show that Aussies know their gambling… They not only want an online casino dealer voice that sounds good, but also one that’s authoritative in the gambling world.”

Other celebrities that featured in the voting included actor Morgan Freeman, cricketer Shane Warne, singer Kylie Minogue and Hollywood star Nicole Kidman.

“The top-two selections are great choices and worthy winners in my opinion ,as an ex-Bond, Sean Connery has a huge association to the casino lifestyle and Jennifer Tilly, whilst being very attractive, is a world-class poker player.”
John Simms said.


About Casino Trading Post: Casino Trading Post was launched in March 2009 and is an online casino portal that uses ‘insider experience’ to help Australian online casino players learn more about the industry. It is a specialist in online pokies.

Angelina Jolie And Some Online Casinos Affront By The UK Ads

Last March 2009, the ad for the movie "Wanted", featuring Jolie, has joined several online casino advertisements in being pulled from distribution by the Advertising Standards Authority.



The British agency responsible for administering standards for advertising has added actress Angelina Jolie to their humorless list of targets. The ad for the movie "Wanted", featuring Jolie, has joined several online casino advertisements in being pulled from distribution by the Advertising Standards Authority.

The ASA previously made news for ordering a Ladbrokes online gambling commercial barred after a single complaint was registered in a nation of over sixty million. The ad humorously compared gambling to swimming with sharks as a safe way to find excitement.

The ad with Jolie showed her shooting guns while exposing her bare back, which the commission said "could be seen to condone violence by glorifying or glamorizing the use of guns."

The ad also shows Jolie curving the path of bullets with her mind, and shooting into a car while upside down in a car flipping over the first. The commercial clearly displays a humorous and fantastic setting, but the ASA seems to take all scenes literally.

The agency has also banned a Requestabet.com ad which made joking comparison between gambling and investing in the stock market. At the time, one critic declared the ASA correct, saying tongue-in-cheek that the market was no laughing matter and investors were probably angry they hadn't wagered their money instead.

Media analyst Howard Bunker says, "The ASA should probably review the spots for “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” After all, they show a husband and wife gleefully trying to kill each other, which may promote domestic violence. And what about Beowulf? Naked Jolie morphing into a monster? Talk about misogynous."

No word was available on whether Parliament had instructed the ASA to get a life.

Celebrity Player: Adrian Grenier

A Stunning, athletic bachelor and leading actor from one of Young Hollywood's favorite shows, Entourage, Adrian Grenier catches every woman's eye in the TV series and now, at the poker table.

Entourage frontman Adrian Grenier showed up, and we won $1500 in poker chips before e betting it all on a single hand.

Adrian Grenier took part in the invite-only Style Lounge Celebrity Poker Tournament benefiting The Creative Coalition in anticipation of the 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards. For those celebs looking to meet stiff competition, UltimateBet.com is dispatching several Team UltimateBet players, including the infamous Annie Duke, to host poker clinics and play in the charity tournament.

The cocktail party prior to the tournament will be hosted by Ellen Pompeo of the Emmy nominated show Grey’s Anatomy, Andre Braugher 4 time Emmy winner and nominee for best lead actor in a miniseries for Thief, and Clifton Collins Jr. nominee for best supporting actor in a miniseries for Thief.

Celebrity guests include DJ AM, Bijou Phillips, Cheryl Hines, Danny Masterson, Dax Shepard, Fran Drescher, Jack Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, Jason Reitman, Jerry Ferrara, Joe Reitman, Eric Millegan, Andy Milonakis, John Hensley, Johnathon Schaech, Kathy Nijimi, Lauren German, Lukas Haas, Nicholas Gonzalez, Patrick Van Horn, Paul McCrane, Richard Schiff, Robin Tunney, Robin Weigert, Roger Cross, Stephen Collins, Steve Aoki, Sunny Mabrey, Tim Daly, Tyler Hilton and many more.

The Style Lounge Celebrity Poker Tournament will feature catering by Spread Nouveau Comfort Food. Flowers provided by K Bella Designs and VIP shuttling by Audi. Music will be provided by DJ Samantha Ronson and DJ Morty.

About Adrian Grenier: Adrian Grenier was in New York working with City Harvest picking up food from local bakeries and restaurants and delivering it to the Yorkville Common Pantry, which works to fight hunger.

He split her girlfriend Isabel Lucas, just weeks after Isabel was discovered to be the passenger in a car crash with Shia LaBeouf.

Grenier also appeared in Britney Spears' music video You Drive Me Crazy alongside actress Melissa Joan Hart.

Grenier has also appeared on films like Love in the Time of Money and Hart’s War in 2002. He was also cast as Clay Askins in Bringing Rain and played Ray Polito in Anything Else. In 2004, he landed the lead role in the HBO series Entourage. This brought him success and pushed his career onto the mainstream.

Two years later, he won the role of Anne Hathaway’s character’s boyfriend in The Devil Wears Prada. In 2008, he was cast as Dallas Houston in the comedy Adventures of Power. Grenier is also the member of two bands, as a lead singer in Kid Friendly and as a drummer in The Honey Brothers.

Celebrity Poker: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan has joined the ranks of celebrities who caught the poker bug. Some top names, both from the world of sports and the world of poker have agreed to join the Eight Annual Tucker Celebrity Golf and Poker Tournament in Minnesota.

It seems like Mr. Tucker has outdone himself this time as he has not only got Michael Jordan to join but also athletes Charles Oakley and Scottie Pippen. To match the top athletes some of the best poker players in the world will also play. Among the best known are Patrick Antonius, Phil Ivey and former world champions Chris Ferguson and Johnny Chan.

The poker tournament held last September 8th and cost $2,500. The golf tournament will start the next day at the Rush Creek Golf Club. The earnings will go to the Trent Tucker Youth Program. Mr. Tucker who won an NBA championship in 1993 is known for his charitable work among the youth. The event is has several sponsors including the World Poker Store.

It’s very pleasing to see such a great lineup of poker professionals devoting themselves to such an admirable cause. Phil Ivey might be the general public not be known for much else than his great poker skills and excellent poker face but Phil Ivey is a great philanthropist who gives plenty to different charities.

In a room of stars, Michael Jordan proved he still shines the brightest. Poker icons and NBA legends packed Canterbury Park last Friday night September 8 for the Inaugural Trent Tucker Celebrity Poker Tournament benefiting the Trent Tucker Youth Program, but in the end Michael Jordan ended up with all the chips.

Michael Jordan gained the chip lead early on the 85- person field, which featured a lengthy list of fellow NBA greats such as Scottie Pippen, Charles Oakley and Kevin Garnett along with a dozen poker professionals including Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, and Greg Raymer. With Bravo's Celebrity Poker Host Phil Gordon announcing, Jordan took home the final pot and first place with pocket fives.

"I just came to have a good time and help the Trent Tucker Non-Profit Organization," said Jordan.

"This was for fun, and I just played my cards. I didn't care if I won or lost," added Jordan, who donated back the first place prize money to the Trent Tucker Non- Profit Organization.

The tournament brought together the largest collection of NBA stars and poker players ever to compete in the same tournament, which was viewed by over 500 spectators. Tournament seats were available to the public for $2,500 with $2,000 going to the charity.

About Michael Jordan: Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. The family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was still a toddler. Jordan was not a rags-to-riches story, his childhood was reasonably comfortable.

Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ironically, Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore. The number of records that Jordan holds will boggle the mind of even the most seasoned mathematics wizard. In 1984 Michael Jordan was the third player to be drafted after Hakim Olajuwon and Sam Bowie.

Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. Jordan went on to guide the Bulls to six NBA Championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998). During all his championship winning years he was also named as NBA Finals MVP.

After a summer of playing basketball during breaks from filming the live-action cartoon movie Space Jam, Jordan returned with a fierce determination to prove that he had the ability to get back on top.

In 1997 he was ranked the world's highest paid athlete, with a $30 million contract—the largest one-year salary in sports history—and approximately $40 million a year in endorsement fees.