HOW POKERSTARS ARE HELPING TO HARNESS THE 'POWER OF PLAY' TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
PokerStars, a Flutter international brand, has supported Right To Play since 2014, by engaging staff, customers and partners to help raise vital funds for the children in Right To Play programmes. The total amassed since the partnership began is now standing at over £3 million, having surpassed the target we jointly set for the partnership to date.
"Right To Play makes such a positive impact to so many children around the world and PokerStars is incredibly proud to be able to support their valuable work. Using play to educate and empower is a philosophy that our players and staff really believe in."
Play Money
This year, Flutter launched a three-year Play Money charity campaign entitled 'Thanks a Million!' which aims to raise an amazing $1m to support children across all of Right To Play's programmes.
"Using play to educate and empower is a philosophy that our players and staff really believe in."
Partnership highlights
Sports Quiz
PokerStars have been the main sponsor of Right To Play UK's flagship fundraising event, the Sports Quiz, for the past six years. This raises valuable funds for the children Right To Play supports across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Last year, the event raised over £300,000 and was hosted by TV sports presenter John Inverdale, who welcomed more than 400 guests and celebrities taking part in an interactive quiz and pledging urgent support through donations, live auctions and raffles. During the event, PokerStars also auctioned off seats to a live poker tournament hosted by golf legend Sam Torrance.
Other sporting celebrities in attendance included cricketers Joe Clarke, Tom Curran, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Gladstone Small, and Jack Winslade, rugby player Nathan Hines, football coach and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, snooker player Jason Ferguson, and Liverpool FC women’s goalkeeper Rylee Foster.
Other Events
Since 2014, PokerStars have also been hosting a variety of their own events in support of Right To Play UK. Footballing superstar Neymar Junior hosted their first celebrity charity poker game in Barcelona, raising over £20,000. They also organised the first-ever online multi-table Play Money charity tournament, which saw 8,000 players raise an incredible £35,000.
Global Play Days
In November 2019, The Stars Group hosted their first week of play events culminating in a 'Global Play Day' supporting Right To Play UK. Over 850 employees across the world, from the Isle of Man to Toronto to India, came together throughout the week to embrace the power of play. Activities included a global bike challenge, an executive basketball challenge, dodgeball, and even a giant ball pit. Staff generously donated over £15,500 by ‘pledging to play’. This success was continued with their first virtual Global Play Day in November 2020.
Programme visits
Throughout the PokerStars partnership, staff and PokerStars Team Pros including Jake Cody and Fatime de Melo have visited Right To Play programmes in Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania. These field trips have enabled PokerStars to witness the impact the partnership and their kind support is having first hand.
Contact us
For more information on the PokerStars partnership or to find out how your company could support vulnerable children across the world through harnessing the unique power of play, please contact:
Maider Lacalle Clemente, Head of Partnerships
mlacalle@righttoplay.com
