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Charity Poker Tournament at Portomaso to Support Degiorgio

1 hour ago

Samantha Doyle 1 hour ago

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Portomaso Casino holding charity poker tournament for Antoine Degiorgio.
Industry partners have donated major prizes to boost fundraising.
Goal is to raise €85,000 for Degiorgio’s rehabilitation and specialist care.

Antoine Degiorgio Charity Poker Tournament

Portomaso Casino is preparing to host a poker tournament where the result that matters most will not appear on the payout sheet.

The Malta venue is staging a charity event for Antoine Degiorgio, a long-time figure in the island’s poker community who is undergoing rehabilitation after suffering a heart attack in March. Funds from the event will go towards the specialist treatment and daily support his family says he now requires.

Industry Partners Add Prizes to the Event

Several prizes have been added to the tournament by companies connected to the poker and gaming sector.

The largest listed addition is a €1,600 The Festival Series package covering 2026 and 2027. Four €125 tickets to TF Tallinn Chicago are also included, alongside a €250 NBDP Coin Bundle and a €250 Betsson One Bullet Entry.

Added Prize	Value
The Festival Series package for 2026/2027	€1,600
Four TF Tallinn Chicago tickets	€125 each
NBDP Coin Bundle	€250
Betsson One Bullet Entry	€250

Portomaso itself is a familiar setting for Malta’s poker players. The casino has staged international tournaments since 2008 and remains one of the island’s regular festival venues.

Fundraising Focus Turns to Rehabilitation

Degiorgio’s family is seeking €85,000 to fund one year of specialist support. The proposed care includes round-the-clock assistance, cognitive therapy, neurological and physical rehabilitation and private medical support.

He suffered a cardiac arrest on March 17 and was initially given a very poor prognosis, but his condition has since improved considerably. His sister told Times of Malta that he is now able to walk and speak in sentences.

For poker players on the island, Degiorgio is also familiar as the founder of Malta Poker Fish and as an organiser of previous charity events. He has been part of Malta poker for well over a decade, often helping international players connect with the local scene.

The Portomaso tournament brings those two parts of his story together, with the community he helped build now forming part of the fundraising effort behind his recovery.