Celebrity Poker Player: Matthew Perry

The popularity of poker is not limited to the average person. Many television and movie celebrities have entered into the poker arena also. Do not believe these stars are merely decoration at the poker table. Many of these celebrities are fierce competitors. But these celebrities are merely the start of it!

There are more celebrity poker players than you perhaps think there are. Most actors that were involved in gambling movies developed a keen interest, many celebs play at special tournaments that raise money for different causes and some stars just gamble for fun!

Stars don't get much bigger than the cast of "Friends." As we all know, too, Matthew Perry seems to like getting himself addicted to things, and according to an interview I read somewhere, online gambling and online poker are Matthew Perry's new addictions.

There's nothing more satisfying than winning a stash of money from one of your best friends, so when Matthew Perry and his comedy co-star David Schwimmer go head-to-head on TV's American Celebrity Poker Showdown it's a sight to behold.

Celebrity Poker Showdown kicked of its second season on Thursday May 27th on the Bravo cable network. The inaugural season last year was such a huge success that this year the show has been expanded to two hours. “Celebrity Poker Showdown” is produced by Picture This Television in association with Bravo.

Each episode of "Celebrity Poker Showdown" features five celebrities competing against each other for a piece of the $250,000 Cingular Wireless prize pool in a game of No Limit Texas Hold'em poker for the charity of their choice.

Seated at the table was Matthew Perry, Country Music star Travis Tritt, actors Sean Astin, Rosario Dawson,Lauren Graham, Sarah Silverman and football great, Jerome Bettis. Pro Poker player Phil Gordon was giving them some instructions and advice for playing No Limit Texas Hold’em.

There were several other stars relaxing at the tables in the room waiting for a turn at the practice poker table. As the time for the tournament approached, all the celebrities scheduled for the first match were escorted from the green room to the set in the Key West Room.

Even though he is rumored to be a heavy online gambler, Matthew Perry spent a private VIP weekend at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas, where a casino host arranged it so that everywhere he would go; he went through back entrances and was seated in private areas.

Matthew Perry was knocked out in the very first round of Celebrity Poker Showdown's first show in 2004. He almost got through and win the 'gold chip' in his next try but was denied this time by Mekhi Phifer.

The actor admitted that he has problems with the way he plays his cards in poker because he hums to himself whenever he has a good hand.

"If I have good cards, I start humming 'Kansas' Dust in the Wind' and I'm just trying to get away from that.” Matthew Perry stated.