Russell Westbrook is bringing his annual charity poker night to Las Vegas after the event raised more than $2 million during its first five editions.
The former NBA star and his wife Nina Westbrook will host the sixth Why Not? Foundation Poker Night at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on September 18. The fundraiser is being held in partnership with the World Poker Tour Foundation and will take place inside the resort’s members-only Poodle Room.
Westbrook Poker Night Has Raised More Than $2 Million
Poker has become an important fundraising tool for Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation.
The annual tournament has now generated more than $2 million for programs supporting underserved communities. Money raised helps fund educational opportunities, workforce development and mental health and wellness programs, particularly for young people in Los Angeles.
It follows another recent example of poker being used for charity, with Poker for Humanity targeting $100,000 for Loudoun Habitat for Humanity in Virginia.
Westbrook founded the Why Not? Foundation in 2012. Its work focuses on providing young people with resources and opportunities intended to improve their education, employment prospects and wellbeing.
Poker Pros and Celebrities Have Joined Westbrook
The event has attracted considerably more than basketball players during its previous editions.
Last year’s field included NBA stars DeAndre Jordan and DeMar DeRozan alongside poker players and celebrities. Antonio Esfandiari and Princess Love were among those attending, while NHL goaltender Adin Hill also took part.
Previous editions have attracted Chris Paul and Maria Ho, while Poker Hall of Famer Jason Koon has also supported the event.
The combination gives the fundraiser an unusual field. Professional poker players can find themselves sitting alongside athletes, entertainers, business figures and supporters of the foundation.
WPT Foundation Returns as Partner
The World Poker Tour Foundation will again help stage the tournament, continuing a relationship that has developed across several editions of Westbrook’s fundraiser.
The charitable arm of the World Poker Tour was launched in 2012 and has worked with numerous organizations through poker fundraising events. The wider WPT brand has also been a major part of tournament poker for more than two decades, including helping establish destinations such as WPT Montreal in Canada.
WPT CEO Adam Pliska said the organization was proud to continue supporting Russell and Nina Westbrook and their work creating opportunities for young people.
Why Not? Poker Night Moves to Fontainebleau
The 2026 edition will be the first held at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Drea Renee will host the event, with longtime WPT commentator Vince Van Patten joining her as co-host. A poker refresher is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. before the main poker and entertainment program begins at 6 p.m.
The move gives the fundraiser a new home on the Las Vegas Strip as it enters its sixth year. Fontainebleau President Maurice Wooden said the resort was honored to support the foundation and Westbrook’s work in Los Angeles.
For Westbrook, the poker tournament remains about considerably more than winning chips.
The Why Not? Foundation has spent more than a decade using his profile to support young people in underserved communities. Poker Night has now become one of its biggest annual fundraising events, with more than $2 million raised and another Las Vegas field preparing to contribute in September.
