Ladies Events – The Latest Trend
Although it's somewhat controversial, Ladies Only Poker Tournaments are sweeping the nation. My first experience with a ladies only event was when I covered the Ladies Event this summer at the WSOP. I thought I would walk into a room full of gossiping, fashionable, and catty ladies with manicured nails and stiletto heels. In reality I stepped into the most aggressive, competitive and silent poker room I've ever seen. I was intimidated just walking through the Amazon Room taking notes, I don't know how I would have been able to actually sit down at a table and play against these females - they were very serious about the game.Thankfully, not all ladies events are like this, because my next encounter playing in an all female event was over at the Orleans when I played in my very first LIPS Tournament - such fun!!!! LIPS is the Ladies International Poker Series and it was founded by Lupe Soto. What a great experience I had playing with a room full of women. LIPS tournaments give ladies an opportunity to walk into a poker room without the intimidation and fear that we sometimes face when we are the only females in a male dominated field. I used to get sick to my stomach walking into the casino and sitting at a table full of men. I was
uncomfortable, usually there was at least one or two lewd men hitting on me, talking down to me, treating me like a child and totally disrespecting me as a female. Of course, I still deal with that today, I'm just used to it and it doesn't bother me anymore. As a female, let me just say, it can be very nerve wracking and downright scary walking into a poker room full of men, so it's nice to know that we have other options.In the past few months ladies poker tournaments have been popping up all over Las Vegas:
• Planet Hollywood runs a tourney on Tuesday nights. The buy-in is $35, but an extra $5 will double your starting chips and it starts at 9 p.m.
• Treasure Island has a ladies only event on Monday nights at 7 p.m. The cost is $65 and as an extra bonus 1st place receives a WET Spa and Salon Package in addition to the prize money.
• Caesar's Palace recently jumped on the bandwagon. They have a tournament on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. for the low price of $75.
In addition to the weekly tournaments, casinos usually add a Ladies Event whenever they are running a series of events. For instance, The Caesars Palace Classic started over the weekend and they are running a slew of events over the next two weeks. The Ladies NLHE will be on October 21 and the buy-in is $340. The WSOP always has a Ladies Event for $1000, and if you visit the LIPS website , you can find upcoming tournaments coming to a town near you!
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Personally, I think the Ladies Only Poker Events are great, but not everyone feels this way. A few weeks ago the Commerce Casino in California was running a tourney for the ladies when Jose Canseco and five of his male friends showed up to crash the party. Due to California law, they had to let them play. I'm guessing they were trying to make a point, but really, what male would want to win a ladies event anyway? Some men feel that if they are going to have ladies only events, they should be fair and have men's only events too. On the flip side, a lot of the females would rather play in a co-ed environment because they want the true poker experience.
I'm a huge fan of having options. I enjoy scooping a huge pot from a man just as much as I enjoy scooping a pot from a woman!
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