Greg Maddux to Host Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament Weekend at Circa Las Vegas

^{The Baller Dream Foundation will be hosting a Game Show Gala Dinner at Circa Resort & Casino as part of its Celebrity Poker Tournament festivities. (Photo: Matty Simo / Casinos.com)}

LAS VEGAS – Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux will once again host the Baller Dream Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament at Circa Resort & Casino on April 25 and 26 in Las Vegas. The Baller Dream Foundation raises money for children and young adults battling cancer, providing financial and emotional support through gifts and experiences.

This will be the fourth year for the Baller Dream Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament, with several former and current professional athletes helping the cause by playing and participating in the weekend’s events.

The tournament itself will get underway at Legacy Club on April 26, with a dinner and Game Show Gala happening the night before. A silent auction featuring memorabilia will accompany Saturday’s event in the Galaxy Ballroom.

“It’s a great weekend for a great cause,” Maddux told Casinos.com. “Between the gala and the poker tournament, people come together to support kids and young adults battling cancer. You don’t have to be a poker player — it’s just a fun way to meet great people and support something meaningful.”

Circa the Perfect Place to Host Celebrity Poker Tourney

Maddux initially got involved with the foundation because his daughter Paige is the Chief Development Officer. He also knew Circa CEO Derek Stevens and thought his new casino resort would be the ideal venue to host the poker tournament, which started in 2023.

“As a longtime Vegas local, Derek, Paige, and I got together to talk about how we could create something to benefit local families,” Maddux said. “Over the past few years, it's evolved into this two-day, VIP event that attracts not only locals, but supporters nationwide.” 

Tickets are available for purchase on the foundation’s website. Admission to the Game Show Gala starts at $750, while a seat in the $10,000 buy-in poker tournament costs $3,000. There are also ticket packages available for visitors and locals alike, including a hotel room at Circa. Last year’s tournament winner took home $50,000.

The poker event has netted $1.2 million over the first three years. This year alone, they hope to raise an additional $800,000, bringing them over $2 million.

Circa Planning ‘Take Me Out to Vegas’ on March 26

A month before Maddux visits Circa, the sportsbook will host “Take Me Out to Vegas” with former Oakland Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. 

Stewart, the 1989 World Series MVP as a member of the A’s and a three-time World Series champion, will officially launch MLB’s Opening Day on March 26. He will represent the new Las Vegas team, which will begin play on the Strip in 2028.

Joining Stewart at 10:15 a.m. PT will be A’s president Marc Badain and public address announcer Amelia Schimmel. 

This will be the fourth consecutive year that Circa will host Opening Day festivities with a ceremonial first pitch in the sportsbook, as Maddux threw it out the previous three years in support of the Baller Dream Foundation.

"Opening day this year marks an important milestone for Las Vegas baseball fans," Stevens said in a statement. "It's a chance to celebrate the pending arrival of the A's, enjoy the game together, and feel the energy building as the team becomes part of the city’s sports landscape."

The event is open to the public, and attendees will get the opportunity to eat American Coney Island hot dogs and complimentary slices of apple pie in the sportsbook. In addition, there will be a limited number of giveaways from the A’s. 

Circa’s sportsbook has been billed by Stevens as the “largest in the world” and typically offers reserved seating.