New PokerStars Ambassador Craigie on "Encouraging the Doubters" in Women's Poker
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She's PokerStars' newest Ambassador for Women in Poker, and Kerryjane Craigie was all patched up as she welcomed female poker players to a special 'Ladies Night' at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas.
In her first official engagement, she welcomed female players on dinner break from the World Series of Poker Ladies Event and others, including from the Women's Poker Association (WPA), of which Craigie is a board member.
As well as continuing to champion female poker players through her monthly games at the Hippodrome Casino in London where she is Director of Poker Operations, Craigie spoke about how her new role will impact women's poker and how it will contribute to positive change and improvements in the playing experience for women at the tables.
Craigie's Voice for Change
Craigie said she was delighted for the opportunity, and thanked PokerStars for the trust and support they had given her.
"I will strive to help us make a difference and make our experiences better"
"I'm not the most successful female poker player," she told a group of female poker players assembled in Las Vegas. "And I'm certainly not the most successful female poker in the room! But I am one of you. I am a woman in poker.
"I connect to all of you in a poker environment and I've been blessed to have a voice in this arena. I will strive to help us make a difference and make our experiences better."
As she explained, Craigie said she "encourages the doubters" of women's poker events and activities to explore that curiosity, saying she doesn't want to silence those who talk down on women's poker, rather communicate with them.
"We can only educate and encourage an understanding if we open up that dialogue. I just hope in return that we open up some minds about why women-only events are so necessary.
"We can all make a difference by steering behavioral traits when we are at the table, and encouraging change"
"We are a part of the poker environment, and women's events are key to how the whole game progresses."
Craigie went on to say she felt that the poker community is on the edge of truly empowering a progression in inclusivity in poker and specifically in women's poker.
"My favorite quote is that 'poker has no bias'. The game doesn't recognize gender, or color or preferences — there's no defining factor. It's the players [themselves] at the table that determine how people are treated.
"I believe in equality and inclusivity, and that behavior breeds behavior. The one thing that everyone has the ability to do is change their behavior. I'm not asking — and I don't have the right — to change anyone's personality. But we can all make a difference by steering behavioral traits when we are at the table, and encouraging change."
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Discrimination Towards Women "Unacceptable"
Craigie says there are many reports on social media of discriminatory behavior, and that such reports are increasing.
"These truly highlight what's going on at the poker table. And I know we all have plenty more stories of our own. You won't convince me that these incidents are isolated or blown out of proportion just for social media.
"There are many occasions where you witness words or actions directed towards a female player just because they are a woman, and this is simply unacceptable.
"Everyone is entitled to the same poker experience at the poker table, and if we check our behavior and encourage others to do the same, it's not unachievable that everyone can walk away winners come the end of the event."
Craigie has encouraged female poker players to seek her out and share your experiences, thoughts and ideas with her. You can reach her on social media: @KJCraigie.
"I want to hear about it because this is a collective drive from us to make the difference. So steer me in how you see the future of women in poker."
All photos courtesy of Danny Maxwell via PokerStars
