Why the Women’s Winter Festival Embraces Inclusivity and Challenges Poker Norms
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Kerryjane Craigie, a PokerStars Ambassador and Director of Poker at the Hippodrome Casino, is leading the charge with the upcoming Women’s Winter Festival. This event aims to elevate inclusivity in poker and create new opportunities for women in the game. In this blog, Craigie shares her vision and the reasons behind the festival’s importance.
When I talk about the Women’s Winter Festival, it’s unsurprising to see reactions of interest.
Given my platform and my view on women's events, my involvement in such an initiative is expected. What does often surprise people is the festival’s impressive £100,000 guaranteed prize pool. But when you bring together myself, my PokerStars colleagues Lizzie Wilson, and Dave Curtis, you can count on something noteworthy emerging.
The question that has caught me off guard is why men are included in the side events. My answer is simple: why not? This festival isn't about segregating by gender for its own sake. All too often, adding a women’s event can feel like a checkbox exercise, resulting in poorly designed structures, low turnout, uninspiring prize pools, and a failure to attract the intended participants.
Why Inclusivity Matters in Poker
So, who is this event for? Like any tournament, the women's-only field will include a diverse mix of novices, experienced players, and everyone else in between. If the event’s structure isn’t up to par, seasoned players may opt for the mixed-field event alongside the women’s event, where they perceive more value and opportunities for bigger wins.
It’s also important to acknowledge that some women prefer to play in an all-female field for personal reasons. Discrimination, intimidation, and poor behavior against women at the table are real issues. For instance, a recent comment in the EPT Barcelona Main Event live-chat about Rania Nasreddine demonstrated this bias. Despite her impressive track record of back-to-back EPT final tables, this negativity highlights why women-only events are crucial. They provide a space where women can compete on a level playing field.
The Role of Men in the Side Events
Women currently make up less than 3% of most tournament fields. Statistically, their chances of making the final table or winning are slim, not due to lack of skill but simply because of numbers. We're challenging these odds by creating a significant and meaningful women's-only main event. It might be controversial, but it’s necessary. This approach promotes growth in the game and nurtures confidence in women, paving the way for more capable players to compete in mixed-field events in the future.
PokerStars Ushers in a New Era of Women's Poker with Women's Winter Festival
Addressing Common Misconceptions
So, why include men in the other events? If we’re committed to making positive strides and encouraging women’s participation in live poker, we must offer events that everyone can join. This inclusivity is at the heart of poker’s spirit.
However, it’s crucial to recognize that even positive discrimination can contribute to gender inequality and reinforce stereotypes. Our goal should be to foster a respectful and inclusive environment for everyone. True equality comes from providing a level playing field, where the 50/50 event comes in.
The 50/50 event will feature equal parts: 50% women and 50% men. This isn’t a team effort but an individual freezeout tournament—a genuine race to the top, and I’m super excited to see this experiment unfold.
The Women's Winter festival runs from November 21-24 inside the Hippodrome Casino. PokerStars is pulling out all the stops to get women into the game by slapping a £100,000 guarantee on the series' Main Event, which features three starting flights and a £400 buy-in.
See the full schedule here.
