11.22.2005 ET

(CSRwire) TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 22, 2005--BenefitPoker.org, a not-for-profit organization and the first online poker site dedicated to becoming a major fundraising resource for charities, is pleased to announce its inaugural charity tournament. On November 29th, 2005 at 8 p.m. EST Operation OZ Kids USA will be holding a charity tournament through BenefitPoker.org to raise funds for a young Australian cancer patient.

By providing charities, like Operation Oz Kids USA, with the resources to hold and support online Texas Hold'em poker tournaments, Benefit Poker helps raise dollars with no financial risk to the charity. Over 80% of all funds generated during online poker tournaments are donated directly to charities. The net proceeds from the November 29th online poker tournament dollars are earmarked to support Dylan Hartung, a 7-year-old Australian boy receiving treatment in New York City for Stage IV Neuroblastoma.

Benefit Poker's Executive Director Michael Perrier notes that "Many charities are faced with significant costs and risks when putting together fundraising efforts. Whether the client is a charity that wants like to run a tournament using their donor lists or a corporation that would like to offer its employees the opportunity to raise funds in a unique and interesting way, BenefitPoker.org provides an online venue for fundraising with little cost associated."

Excapsa Software, Inc., a leading Internet gaming software developer headquartered in Toronto, Ontario generously donated the online poker software used to form the operational technology behind BenefitPoker.org's one-of-a-kind charity poker site. The newest member of the Excapsa Poker Network, BenefitPoker.org will be able to utilize the software company's 1.5 million user database to fill seats at the charity events. Worldwide charities will profit not only from their own support groups but from the poker network's commitment to promoting the fundraising efforts of Benefit Poker to the online poker community. Excapsa CEO Jim Ryan says, "We are proud to be able to include this site among our poker network and educate the online poker community about their many fundraising efforts. Excapsa has always been committed to giving back to our communities and have run charity events for many causes."

Operation Oz Kids USA, a Fund of the American Australian Association, was established in 2003 to assist Australian children needing urgent and specific medical treatment in the USA, which is unavailable to them in Australia.

Benefit Poker can be found at www.benefitpoker.org. For additional information about running an online tournament for your charity contact us at info@benefitpoker.org. For additional information on how to host your own charity tournament please contact Mike Perrier at Benefit Poker mike.perrier@benefitpoker.org.

Copyright Business Wire 2005

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