We need to get into a business that involves bundles of money. Poker. Crime. Either way.

Team Bluff Magazine — comprising Publisher Eric Morris, Managing Editor Matt Parvis and local player Justin Bonomo — were the winners of the inaugural Dream Team poker tournament at the Hard Rock Hotel’s Poker Lounge, collecting $39,000 in prize money plus championship rings worth $5,000 each. It’s pretty much like winning the Super Bowl without having to lug around the Lombardi Trophy.

Local player Jason Lilley of Team Flop won the individual event.

By Jason Scavone

Just look at him. He’s totally bluffing.

Former World Series of Poker champion Jamie Gold is among those set to walk the red carpet for the debut of Dream Team Poker at the Hard Rock Hotel tomorrow at noon. The invitational tournament allows players to compete in teams of three, so you’re not out of the running until all three team members have busted. It does mitigate some of the luck factor, but should drastically increase your “I never knew my friends were such idiots” quotient. Joining Gold on the red carpet are pros David Benyamine, Erica Schoenberg, David Daneshgar Kenny Tran, Jean Robert Bellande, Roy Winston and Chris Bigler, actor and poker enthusiast Mekhi Phifer, Daily 10 host Sal Masekela, 24 actor Roger Cross, Holly Montag of The Hills, former NBA player Chris Mills, Knight Rider’s Yancey Arias and Simpsons writer and producer Sam Simon. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Looks like the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas is looking to catch some of the spillover from the Rio’s World Series of Poker this year with its own month-long event, the Grand Poker Series, held June 6 through July 6 at the property’s Grand events center.

Featuring daily tournaments on more than 50 tables, 24/7 cash games, sit-and-go satellites and much more, including three bracelet events, the Grand Poker Series kicks off Friday, June 6 with a celebrity poker tournament, “Cards, Celebrities and a Cause,” hosted by Montel Williams to benefit his Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

The satellite tournaments will be held in the Golden Nugget poker room starting this Saturday, March 1. Players can compete to win a seat at the June 6 benefit, where half of the $1,000-per-person prize pool will be donated to the Montel Williams MS Foundation and the other half distributed to winning players. Click for more words and pictures »

By Pj Perez

Who doesn’t love poker? And who doesn’t love celebrities? More importantly, who doesn’t love Opportunity Village, somehow dubbed “Las Vegas’ Favorite Charity?” Well, Caesars Palace is hosting a Celebrity Poker Tournament to benefit the charity on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m.

The event takes place in the Caesars Palace Poker Room and celebrities scheduled to participate include Joey and Frankie Scinta (of The Scintas), Robin Leach, baseball legend Rollie Fingers (does his mustache count as a legend all its own?), Skip Martin of Kool and the Gang, Louie Anderson, poker giant “Oklahoma” Johnny Hale, the studs of Thunder from Down Under and comedian Bobby Slayton.

The Main Event Tournament is open to the public with a $500 buy-in and unlimited re-buys through the sixth round for $300. For you non-poker lovers who still want to help, you can attend the VIP reception at Pure nightclub during the tournament for only $50. Of course, either way, the real winner is Opportunity Village. To register, click here.

By Pj Perez

The Third Annual Celebrity Poker Tournament at Caesars Palace is happening at 1 p.m. on Feb. 16. Winning this No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em tourney will earn you cash, prizes and a seat in the World Series of Poker. Wanna play? There’s a $500 buy-in and unlimited re-buys available through the sixth round for $300.

Don’t want to play — or more likely (and this is the case for us), don’t have hundreds of dollars to throw out? Drop $50 and you’ll get to watch the action as well as attend a VIP reception at Pure nightclub, which will feature an open bar, live entertainment, a silent auction and gourmet hors d’oeuvres. All proceeds will go to Opportunity Village. See? You can sin and be a saint at the same time.

Celebs — if you can call them that — expected to show include Ronn Lucas, Frankie and Joey Scinta of The Scintas, Thunder from Down Under (ladies, keep your panties on) and Oklahoma Johnny Hale (uh, who?).

By Ashley Rice

(Photo courtesy UFC.com)

Mixed martial arts legend Randy “The Natural” Couture is interested in more than just pounding his opponents senseless and, um, training others to do the same. He’s also a humanitarian and philanthropist, which he’ll prove — or else — when he hosts “Operation All-In,” a charity poker tournament at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel on Jan. 12 from 1 to 6 p.m. The event will raise money for Couture’s Xtreme Couture GI Foundation, which aids wounded troops who are adjusting to civilian life. The tournament will feature $200 rebuys and a guaranteed prize pool, as well as a silent auction and live DJ (better than a dead one!). Tickets are $550. Visit www.xtremecouturegifoundation.org for more information.

By Ashley Rice