DON CHEADLE - ANTI-GAMBLERS ATTACK NEW CELEBRITY POKER SHOW

A new celebrity poker challenge on TV in America has come under fire for sending the wrong message about gambling to kids.

BEN AFFLECK, DAVID SCHWIMMER and DON CHEADLE are among the stars competing in the CELEBRITY POKER CHALLENGE tournament, which debuted last week (ends05DEC03).

And officials at America's National Council on Problem Gambling fear the show will lure kids into the glitz and glamour of professional card playing.

Organisation spokesman KEITH WHYTE (corr) says, "It's a bad message and a bad role model for kids who can watch this on TV and be impressed that some of their favourite stars are doing it."