Buddhist Poker Player Donates $670,000 Prize To Charity

Scott Wellenbach loves to play poker, but the 66-year-old Buddhist doesn't play for the money. Instead, he takes all of his winnings and donates them to charity. He has been playing cards since he was just a kid and feels fortunate that he has been able to win money over the years. As a practicing Buddhist, he believes he should use his winnings to help people in need. 

“I suppose I rationalize it by giving my winnings away to charity,” he told the BBC. “Poker gives you a tremendous opportunity to work with the heavens and hells of your mind.”

Following a third-place finish at the $10,000 buy-in Main Event at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure at the Atlantis Casino in the Bahamas, Wellenbach will be donating $670,000 to charitable organizations. 

He told a reporter from PokerNews that he has not decided which organizations he plans to help out with his most recent winnings. 

"Where it will go this time, I don't know, we'll see. I also give to Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam. Just feeding people that are hungry and helping them with the medicine they need."


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