Resident of Hollywood Wins 1st Offical High Stakes Tournament

Hollywood resident, Doron Malinasky won California's first official sanctioned high stakes poker tournament on Sunday at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

  He won $53,190 dollars for taking first place after he outlasted 126 other players.  Maurice Hawkins of Lauderdale Lakes finished the tournament in second place for a win of $52,500 dollars.

The tournament had a $3,000 dollar entry fee which was the most expensive in the states history.  Previous tournament that were held in the state were limited to $1,100 dollar entry fee.  The reason the entry fee was higher is because of a contract between the Seminole Tribe and Government and the Seminoles. 

The Seminoles can now hold six larger tournaments a year as long as 70 percent of the casino's proceeds go to a charity.  The tournament that began last Friday raised $40,000 dollars for the Miami Beach Health Foundation.