Charity Poker Festival Center Unveiled

14 June 2005

CLEVELAND, Ohio – (PRESS RELEASE) -- City and county government officials joined leading charities and Jacobs Investments' personnel for a ribbon- cutting ceremony today that unveiled an impressive 20,800 sq. ft. Festival Center that will house a series of poker festivals to run throughout the summer at the Nautica Entertainment Complex.

The Nautica Charity Poker Festivals will consist of 12 four-day festivals featuring Texas Hold 'Em played inside the air-conditioned Festival Center beginning this Thursday, June 16th and running through Labor Day weekend. While players keep their cash winnings, each Festival is hosted by a qualified charity that receives proceeds in the form of hourly seat fees and concession income. Charities hosting Festivals include the Cleveland Police Athletic League, Art on Wheels, Easter Seals of Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Baseball Federation, Greater Cleveland Special Olympics and Up Side of Downs. Northeast Ohio Breast Cancer Coalition, Cleveland Municipal Football and Walsh Jesuit Booster Club were announced today as additional charities hosting upcoming Festivals.

"I would like to thank the County Commissioners for recognizing the economic benefits these Poker Festivals offer to charities and downtown Cleveland," said Jeffrey Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of Jacobs Investments, Inc. "Their support helped to make the Nautica Charity Poker Festivals a reality," he added.

"I would also like to thank Mayor Campbell for her efforts to bring gaming to northeast Ohio. These Charity Poker Festivals will reveal to statewide voters that this job-creating, revenue-generating industry is a plus for Cleveland, as well as Ohio. Last but not least, I would like to thank the distinguished charities that are hosting these Festivals. The thousands of volunteers required for the Festivals represents a significant commitment, however, your efforts will substantially increase the awareness and funding of your causes," noted Jacobs.

Created to generate revenue for local charities, as well as generate public awareness of the economic benefits of gaming, Nautica Charity Poker Festivals will serve to draw thousands of visitors to downtown Cleveland. "The Poker Festivals will demonstrate the phenomenal demand for gaming in Ohio and show people that gaming is a viable source of revenue," said Dave Grunenwald, Vice President of Development/ Leasing for Jacobs Investments, which owns the Nautica Entertainment Complex. "Today we welcome additional charities that will host upcoming Festivals," added Grunenwald. "Northeast Ohio Breast Cancer Coalition, Cleveland Municipal Football and Walsh Jesuit Booster Club will join charities previously announced to host and benefit from Charity Poker Festivals. We ask that you support these fine organizations by coming down and participating in the Festivals," said Grunenwald.

While players keep their cash winnings, each charity will receive proceeds from the Festivals which may exceed $50,000 during each four-day event. Adults 21 years and older will be allowed to play poker at up to 30 tables seating up to 10 players each. Proceeds will come from an hourly seat fee paid by each player, donations made by patrons, food and beverage concessions and sponsorship.

The Cleveland Police Athletic League (PAL) will host Nautica Charity Poker Festivals this week beginning Thursday, June 16th through Sunday, June 19th and the following week, June 23rd - 26th.