Hellmuth and Deeb Head to Rochester for $60,000 Legends of Poker
Lilac Club Casino expects up to 200 players for its one-day event, with charitable-gaming proceeds assigned to two local education and child-care groups.
Phil Hellmuth and Shaun Deeb are set to headline Lilac Club Casino’s $60,000 Legends of Poker Tournament: One-Day Challenge in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Thursday, Sept. 24. The $600 buy-in event begins at 4 p.m. in the Lilac Club Poker Room, with 12 tables available and seating limited.
As we reported last week, the tournament will be the casino’s second major event to feature Hellmuth, who first played at the property last year. Jason White, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow and Brandon Cantu are also scheduled to play.
Players who eliminate Hellmuth or Deeb will receive a $500 Champions Bounty for each headliner. Hellmuth and Deeb are the advertised stars, but the event is expected to draw between 150 and 200 entrants, according to NH Journal.
The tournament is expected to be the second-biggest poker event hosted in New Hampshire. A first satellite on Sept. 13 sent several players into the main event, while a final Mega Satellite Tournament is scheduled for Sept. 20. Players can also buy in for $600 at the poker room from 9 a.m. Sunday.
Thriving Roots Childcare and the Seacoast Educational Endowment of Dover will receive the charitable-gaming contributions assigned to the tournament dates. Thriving Roots provides affordable care for children from 6 weeks to 6 years old, and its share is intended to replace pre-K classroom flooring and buy playground equipment.
The Seacoast Educational Endowment of Dover supports Dover public-school educators through grants for continuing education, classroom resources and teaching tools. Granite State Gaming & Hospitality COO Eric Barbaro said the event’s support for organizations serving local children, families and educators was what made bringing it to New Hampshire especially meaningful.
New Hampshire Lottery rules classify poker as a regulated Game of Chance under RSA 287-D and state regulations. Licensed gaming operators can partner with up to two charities per day, and the partner charities receive 35% of gross gaming revenue on their assigned dates.
That formula means a $100 gaming loss generates $35 for the designated charity. Granite State Gaming & Hospitality uses a charity-selection committee to review applications, assess community needs and schedule charitable dates.
The broader contributions are substantial, though the reported measures differ. Granite State Gaming & Hospitality’s Rochester property had generated about $3 million in charitable contributions so far this year, while its Seabrook property had produced just over $1 million. Separately, the City of Rochester said in March that Lilac Club Casino had contributed more than $3.3 million to local charitable organizations since opening in March 2025.
Lilac Club Casino’s earlier charitable giving included more than $116,000 split between Rochester Main Street and the Rochester Rotary Club in 2025.
