Lady Gaga Invited At The APT

Glamorous pop star Lady Gaga is the latest celebrity to be given an official invitation to the Asian Poker Tour in Macau. As probably part of a move to increase the event's popularity, the APT has been trying to get Lady Gaga to perform at the poker festival.

Last week the organizers also invited Michael Phelps to participate and they will pick up the tabs for both of them if they are to attend.

The electro-pop, Queen-inspired artist would be in Macau for a concert on August 15 – the APT began yesterday and runs until the 23rd, making the timing right.

Lady Gaga’s song “Poker Face” topped the UK charts earlier this year and sold millions worldwide – since then she has had success with other singles such as Paparazzi.

From Pokerati:

Dear Lady Gaga,

“I wanna hold them like they do in texas please, fold’em let em hit me raise it baby stay with me.” We certainly hope so and cannot believe the coincidence that you are playing live in Macau on Saturday 15th August while the Asian Poker Tour Macau Festival is in full swing at the Galaxy Starworld.

Your ‘Fame Ball’ Tour has been a huge hit and we are sure the plaudits in Macau will be the same as in Osaka, Tokyo, Seoul and Manila but imagine the reaction if you showed your poker face at the Asian Poker Tour Macau Festival!

Not only will the venue be full of the world’s best poker players, the tournament is also the backdrop to the first ever Chinese language poker movie ‘Poker King,’ which people would go ‘gaga’ for if you took on a cameo role. Forget the wigs, keep the bleached blonde hair and think about the exposure to a huge audience!

You are well known for your dazzling array of outfits and admired for your mix of music and independent attitude. You have gone acoustic and proved you have real talent but the bottom line is nobody has actually seen your poker face! We see you with cards and the glamour in the ‘Poker Face’ video but in fairness we don’t know if you can hold’em.

We undoubtedly are trying to spread the word about poker in Asia, and, despite what some poker purists might argue, you have brought the great game to the attention to millions of new people through your worldwide best selling hit. You have a new tattoo that is the big news at the moment but we finally see your poker face… now that is different, that is serious news! ‘Poker Face’ is not about poker and you cannot play cards? Don’t worry, we have got plenty of people that could teach you!

You are in Macau while the premier poker event in the region is on! The festival runs from the 12th - 23rd with the Main Event getting underway on the 20th. We have a special Celebrity event featuring Hong Kong and Chinese language stars on Tuesday the 18th which you would be more than welcome to attend.


We have also openly invited Michael Phelps to come along and are waiting to hear back but in fairness you are in the same city while the event is on so come on, all expenses are on us, just dance!

Congratulations on your nine MTV Video Award nominations but do us and the world a favour, come and see us in Macau and show us your poker face! We would be honored.

Best wishes,

The Asian Poker Tour

The Asian Poker Tour Macau Festival will run from August 12-23, 2009 at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel and Casino in Macau. The Main Event in 2008 was won by 20-year-old US hotshot Yevgeniy Timoshenko, who scooped US$500,000 after emerging triumphant from the star-studded field that featured players from over 40 countries.

The Asian Poker Tour Macau hosts over 20 events with 15 official side events - the first four taking place between the 12th - 16th August featuring guaranteed prize pools. Day 1A of the Main Event kicks off on the 20th August. Full details can be found at http://www.asianpt.com/.

Lady Gaga happens to be on the Chinese island on August 15th for a concert at The Venetian Macau.

If she agrees to attend the event will probably contribute to the poker boom in Asia as she is very popular in the continent.

Photo credit: Maxim.com
Invitation: Pokerati.com

Serinda Swan: The Absolute Poker Girl

In a recent online poker survey in which Vancouver model, Serinda Swan , tied for first place with Hollywood celebrity, she is making waves across the poker world and beyond. She is perhaps best known for being the spokeswoman for AbsolutePoker.net.

Thanks to the online poker survey and her work with the popular online poker company, she's also being noticed by Hollywood. The actress, who once appeared in a film directed by Joel Schumacher entitled, "Cousins", is currently slated to star in a new movie based on the Loch Ness Monster mystery.


Serinda Swan, a model, actress, and avid poker player that has recently become the new poker face of Absolute Poker. Although relatively new to the poker world, she has been taking her poker career seriously.

Besides being a regular online player, she has attended a “poker boot camp,” and received impromptu lessons from the likes of Mark Seif and Phil Hellmuth. Her game of choice is No-Limit Holdem. She considers her poker game a work in progress, and admits she needs “practice, practice, practice.”

Serinda Swan attributes her interesting first name to the fact that her parents were hippies and, as such, they named her after a Tibetan musical instrument of the same name. She also goes by the nickname of Swanita.

Serinda Swan can be found in promotional videos and commercials for the site. She's isn’t all about looks, however, as she is also an avid poker player. Swan is relatively new to the game, but has taken her game seriously.

In fact, she has gone through a poker boot camp and has received lessons from professional poker players such as Phil Hellmuth and Mark Seif.

Also, she can be found playing online poker regularly at Absolute Poker from 2:00 to 4:00 PM EST on Sundays.


Here, she plays at the $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em table under the name “Serinda Swan.” No-Limit Hold’em is her game of choice and, although she is certainly establishing herself as a name in the poker room, she still admits that she needs more practice.

In addition to playing against her, players can chat with her as well. Be warned, however, that she regularly blogs about these interactions. The blog can be read by visiting the players’ lounge, which also features a photo gallery of the model.

ABOUT SERINDA SWAN

Serinda Swan’s acting career has mostly consisted of television ads and guest appearances.

She has made guest appearances on the television shows Supernatural, Blood Ties, Exs and Ohs, and the Best Damn Poker Show.


In 2005, she landed a small roll in an Australian film called Neal ‘n Nikki and she is the star of a made-for-television movie entitled Beyond Lock Ness.

She has modeled for Guess Jeans, and appeared in television commercials for Milky Way, Much Music, Macy’s and Absolute Poker.