The heads-up Championship wasn’t the only red-carpet poker going on in Vegas this weekend. Paris Hilton was in town for her 28th birthday party (at Body English) and recouped the next day by playing a relatively low-key sit-n-go at the Hard Rock with boyfriend Doug Reinhardt and crew. No word on the buy-in ($500? just a guess) or whether or not they kept to TDA-sanctioned random seat draw regulations … or even if she mighta been paid to play … but still, glad to see her make poker part of her birthday weekend and Vegas trip.

Thanks to Vegas-scene photog Erik Kabik for the pics:

Photo: © Erik Kabik / RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com

High Five: Paris Hilton and friends celebrate pocket jacks holding up during her 28th birthday tournament at the Hard Rock Poker Lounge in Las Vegas, March 6.

UPDATE: Game details here.

You know how it goes with poker … if you’ve got the bug, you kinda can’t help but wanna spread it to your beloved.