888Poker has always been championing for more female participation in poker and this year the poker operator is taking things a notch higher. The company announced that it will be the sponsor of this year Women in Poker Hall of Fame event that is scheduled for June 26 in Las Vegas. During the ceremony, two more women will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Many poker rooms have recognized the struggles that female poker players face as they try to play the game. Thus, in 2008, the Women in Poker Hall of Fame came into being in order to serve and honour the female presence in the game. In addition to this, the initiative would also serve to work alongside philanthropic courses that would benefit the community as a whole.
This year, the two women who will be enshrined into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame will be picked from a list of 11 extraordinary women namely: Hermance Blum, Mandy Glogow, Angelica Hael, Haley Hintze, Maria Ho, Karina Jett, Terry King, Shirley Rosario, Kara Scott, Lupe Soto and Jennifer Tilly
One of the nominees, Kara Scott also happens to be one of 888Poker’s four female ambassadors. Scott paid tribute the Women in Poker Hall of Fame’s founders citing the fact that the initiative would make poker more accessible to newer generations of female players.
“I have been lucky to meet some truly extraordinary women through poker,” she said. ”And, it’s thanks to those extraordinary trailblazers and the women who keep pushing boundaries that we regular women can sit down at a table and play poker without really having to think twice about it – and with far less trouble and effort than they had.”
More Opportunities for Women
One of the other nominees, Lupe Soto has also launched a new endeavour – the Women’s Poker Association (WPA) which is a non-profit organization or association that is dedicated to promoting women in poker through education and networking. Soto also happens to be one of the founders of the Women in Poker Hall of Fame and sits on its organizing committee.
