HOLLYWOOD, FL – Poker and adult entertainment seem to be making a fantastic mix. The Porn Poker Tour, which debuted last June at Cybernet Expo in San Diego, made a much-publicized stop at the summer Internext Expo convention, which wrapped up last Sunday in Hollywood, Florida. The event featured two days of qualifying rounds, followed by a final round for the top players on Sunday. At stake was a first prize of $5000, generously donated by the event’s sponsors. Participation in the Porn Poker Tour was free to all Internext attendees, although advance registration was required. Unclaimed spots, however, were occasionally available.“We believe that the Porn Poker Tour (PPT) has been a success since it was first started at the Cybernet Expo this year in San Diego,” said Brett from SammySmack.com, one of the organizing sponsors of the event. “There has been a tremendous amount of feedback, and the interest seems to be growing. We had 70 players lined up to play as soon as the show floor opened, filling up the 100 slots within the first 30 minutes.”
Dan from CamZ.com, another of the event’s organizing sponsors, agreed.
“I am so proud of the event and how things are progressing. I think that poker and porn is a great mix. We are all a bit of gamblers in this business and we love to have a little fun while we do business. The poker craze going on throughout the world is amazing.”
Players who were expecting the event’s sponsors to take a dive and go “all in” on a pair of 2’s were sorely disappointed. As skill would have it – since it’s said that luck is less involved in poker than it is in other games of chance – the top prize was claimed by one of the event’s organizing sponsors, Dan from CamZ.com, when he knocked out his last remaining opponent.
“It was the fiancé of the LatinCash guy, and I think I beat her hitting the 9 on the river,” Dan said.
Yet Dan, an accomplished poker player with a growing history of tournament wins, has a good idea how to spend the money.
“I plan on donating the money to the FSC in the names of all of the sponsors of the event,” Dan told YNOT. Sponsors included CamZ.com, Netbilling, SammySmack, Eroticy, Jupiter Hosting, PluginFeeds, DatingGold and MrSkinCash.
The daytime approach to poker was a first for the Tour. At Cybernet Expo, the Porn Poker Tour was an evening event complete with a side party for non-players. At Internext Expo, however, the action took place during exhibit hours and on the show floor itself.
“Bringing the PPT to the show floor at Internext was a great concept because it was a win – win situation for both AVN and the PPT sponsors,” explained Brett. “It gave us the exposure and brought more foot traffic to the trade show floor.”
Regardless, the format may change somewhat when the event arrives at Internext again in January.
“We are thinking of a party / poker tournament much like we did at Cybernet, just on a bigger scale with a party on one side and poker in the rear, with the final table to be played on the floor the following night,” Dan explained.
In the meantime, the event’s sponsors are very happy with the returns.
“Everyone at Eroticy is honored to be associated with the high caliber of professionals that helped make the Porn Poker Tour such a huge success,” said Kristi Mitchell, Vice President of Commerce & Service at Eroticy.com. “We are looking forward to being a part of this for many years to come. In this business, building alliances and trust is paramount to ongoing success, and Eroticy feels extremely lucky to be in the same category with all of the other great sponsors that were involved. In the end, with Dan from CamZ donating his winnings of $5000.00 to the Free Speech Coalition in the names of all the sponsors, I think this was definitely an event that was worth it for not only those directly involved but everyone in the industry.”
The Netbilling crew, also organizing sponsors of the Tour, told YNOT that the show will go on.
“Myself, Sarah, and the Netbilling staff who attended Internext were extremely pleased with the turnout for the Porn Poker Tour, and the attendance we had in the hospitality suite as well as our booth,” said Mitch Farber of Netbilling. “We know the sponsors are happy, as were the 100 qualifiers who all won cash. After our second successful poker event, Dan, Brett, and I are working to bring the Poker Tour to more shows, and we will have an announcement shortly. Thanks to all of the sponsors and players.”
Companies thinking they might get in on the action will be disappointed to learn that sponsorships for the event are currently all filled up.
“As of right now, all the sponsors are thrilled to be involved and have stated to me that they will be returning,” Dan told YNOT. “It was, and I think will continue to be, an event that does well for the sponsors. There is good value there.”
“I think this event will continue to grow with the help of the tremendous group of sponsors we have on board.”
Brett agreed.
“This is just the beginning for the PPT, and by having all the sponsors re-signing without hesitation shows that it was a success.”
