If big stack Scott Wellenbach takes down the PCA Main Event today, the $1,567,100 top prize won’t be recycled back into the poker community. It’ll be heading straight to charity.
Starting today’s final table as second in chips, Wellenbach’s favourite charitable organisations already stand to gain at least $146,840 from the Halifax, Nova Scotia, man’s run in the Bahamas. A win would push that number to $1,567,100.
A Buddhist Translator Who Gives Away Every Dollar
Wellenbach made the same promise back in 2017 after winning $72,000 at the Barcelona EPT. At the time, he told CBS: “I have a job, I’m OK financially, I don’t really need the money, I have a place to live, I’ll be able to eat without those funds.”
Away from the felt, Wellenbach lives a quiet life. He has spent the past 30 years translating Buddhist teachings from Sanskrit and Tibetan. At the poker tables, however, he is a different player entirely.
With just under $100k in lifetime tournament earnings before the PCA, Wellenbach now looks set to more than double that figure at one of his favourite stops on the live circuit.
He admits he isn’t the best player in any given field, but he believes he holds an edge over most amateurs in the game. His deep run this week is proving that point.
Why Does He Give His Poker Winnings Away?
The reasons behind his generosity don’t come from his Buddhist faith directly. As Wellenbach explained: “I feel there’s a tension about winning money under those circumstances and I guess I rationalize my addiction by giving away the winnings.”
His view of the game is unusually honest. He has said that “a significant amount of your money is won from people who are too addicted, too drunk, too unstudied or too masochistic to play well.” A blunt take, but one that fuels his decision to redirect his winnings.
“I typically give to very traditional charities: Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, people who feed and clothe and house those who are in need,” Wellenbach said.
He also donates to Buddhist nunneries in Nepal and Tibet, explaining: “Buddhism, like many religions, has had a difficulty with gender bias and I think it’s very important to support the education of young nuns or young women.”
“If you empower women, that’s about as big a bang for your buck as you can get,” he added.
The Final Table Lineup
This PCA final table is already the best result of Wellenbach’s poker career. The question now is whether he can take it all the way.
On the other side of the table sits Chino Rheem, one of the most talented but controversial figures in tournament poker. Rheem has nearly $10 million in career earnings, but is equally known for years of reported debts and disputes within the community.
Poker and Charity: A Growing Trend
Wellenbach is far from the only poker player using the game as a vehicle for good. High stakes pro Dan Smith runs an annual charity drive that raises millions each year. The Raising for Effective Giving (REG) initiative, founded by Liv Boeree and Igor Kurganov, is another example of poker pros channelling winnings toward effective causes.
Guy Laliberté’s One Drop Foundation has also made a major mark through poker, hosting some of the highest buy in charity events in the game’s history.
If Scott Wellenbach does pull off the win at the Atlantis Resort, there’s no reason to feel envious. The money will go exactly where it’s needed most.
Update: Wellenbach finished 3rd for $671,240, all of which he donated to charity, including Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, and Buddhist nunneries in Nepal.
