Oldies music backed the betting and bluffing of Youth Home’s third annual Casino Night and poker tournament July 13 at Next Level Events. That’s the “Rockin’ Robin” oldies, not the “know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em” sort.
Last year’s winner, Little Rock’s Shane Benbrook, 41, encouraged this year’s eventual champ Matt Odom to compete. Benbrook estimates he finished in 30th place, but this time around he had a bounty on his head.
“Because I won last year,the person who knocked me out of the tournament won a prize, and in this case, it was a $100 gift card to Big Orange,” he said. “That means people are going to play differently toward me. It’s always easier to fly under the radar in poker.”
Those outside the tournament looked far less earnest behind the Pass Line at the craps table or doubling down with blackjack. One corner of the room glowed and clanged with a handful of slot machines. Just a touch of Vegas. Casino lite, if you will.
Though only 78 players competed in the tournament - an increase of 20 players over last year - roughly 200 helped Youth Home net $5,000 for its programs, which provide psychiatric treatment to emotionallytroubled adolescents. Youth Home’s take was double what the event netted its inaugural year.
“That’s pretty significant,” said director of development Chrissy Chatham said. “We gave away nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for an event that had 200 people. Those are a pretty good odds.”
High Profile, Pages 40 on 07/21/2013