Press Release: World Poker Tour Launches Its First Official Ladies Poker League & Tour – WPT Ladies

LOS ANGELES – With the dramatic rise of women playing tournament poker, World Poker Tour® (WPT) has expanded its female-focused tour offering with the launch of an official WPT ladies league and No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournament circuit—WPT Ladies™ (WPTL). With buy-ins ranging from $300 - $1,500, the tournament circuit provides multiple opportunities for amateur, semi-pro, and professional female players to test their skills in a tournament environment at prestigious gaming destinations without having to pay a costly five-figure buy-in. Ladies also will have the chance at each stop to win a WPT title and a seat in the WPT Ladies’ Championship.  

“Women are a rising force in poker,” said Robyn Moder, executive vice president of WPT Studios. “By bringing a WPT ladies league and tour stops to top gaming destinations across the US, we hope to support and perpetuate the evolution of the sport and recognition of the women who play.”  

Season I of the WPTL tour kicks off January 20 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, NJ, and will feature additional tournaments at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, and Bay 101 in San Jose, Calif. The tour will conclude with a $1,500 Championship tournament at Bellagio in Las Vegas, who also will host a player party in conjunction with the event. The WPTL Championship final table will be filmed on the WPT set for television broadcast on WPT’s new network home, GSN, in 2008. The winner will receive the first place cash prize and the WPT Ladies’ Championship title.  

To help end breast cancer, a disease that statistically has or will affect one in every eight women competing on the WPTL tour, WPT has partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. Participants will have the opportunity to donate at each tour stop and 15 percent of each $1,500 buy-in at the WPTL Championship will be donated to benefit Komen for the Cure.  

The WPTL Season I schedule is as follows. Visit www.worldpokertour.com/wptladies for more details. 

January 20 -- Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa; Atlantic City, NJ

                      Buy-in: $300, Entry Fee: $50 

February 2-3 -- Commerce Casino; Los Angeles, CA

                         Buy-in: $970, Entry Fee: $95

                         In association with Ladies Poker Association 

March 16 -- Bay 101; San Jose, CA        

                    Buy-in: $300, Entry Fee: $30

                    In association with Ladies International Poker Series 

March 29 -- Foxwoods Resort & Casino; Mashantucket, CT      

                    Buy-in: $530, Entry Fee: $70 

April 13-14 -- WPT Ladies' Championship – Bellagio; Las Vegas, NV

                        Buy-in: $1,500. Entry Fee: $90 

April 25 -- Televised Final Table