Vegas Goes All In For Its Lawmaker

Poker players are dealing a straight flush for the lawmaker who's championing their fight to bring back legal Internet gambling: Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley of Vegas. "Shelley has been a longtime supporter of our rights as poker players and a strong voice in Washington, D.C., on our behalf," says Michael Bolcerek, president of the Poker Players Alliance.

How good a friend of gamblers, you ask? So good that Bolcerek is hosting a June 9 poker tourney at Bally's Hotel and Casino to benefit her. The deal: The first 50 players to pony up $2,000-yes, that's $100,000 in all-get to play.

The winner receives a $10,000 seat at the televised World Series of Poker, second place gets an official poker table, and third receives a private lesson with card legend Phil Gordon.

By Paul Bedard