BEN AFFLECK - POKER CHAMP AFFLECK GETS CASINO INVITE

Hollywood hunk BEN AFFLECK's recent poker win has led to a casino in New Orleans, Louisiana, extending a special invitation for him to attend its upcoming tournament.

The GIGLI star raked in $356,400 (GBP198,000) earlier this month (JUN04) at the COMMERCE CASINO's CALIFORNIA STATE POKER

CHAMPIONSHIP, which qualified him for a seat at the WORLD POKER TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP next April (05).

But HARRAH's SANDIE McNAMARA is eager to see Affleck's poker skills before next year, and has invited him to the casino's NEW ORLEANS BAYOU TOUR challenge from 9 August (04). The tournament ends on 15 August (04), which is Affleck's 32nd birthday.

There is also speculation that Affleck will participate in France's GRAND PRIX DE PARIS tournament from 17-20 July (04).