WPT Pulls Mandated Donation for Future Poker Championships

Last week a group of high profile female poker players, including two-time World Series of Poker Ladies Champion Susie Isaacs, cancelled their plans to compete in the World Poker Tour's 2008 Ladies Championship, when they learned that the WPT would be removing 15% of the prize pool as a donation to its event partner, Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

World Poker Association Chairman, Wendeen H. Eolis explains, "The furor has centered on the WPT's insensitivity to the varying financial means of 'working players' and more broadly on the decision to compel a charitable donation in an event labeled as a championship."

The WPT has never exacted such a pledge in any previous championship event. Eolis called upon the WPT to "reverse this mistake" for the future.

WPT REVERSES MANDATE

Today, Lyle Berman, Chairman of the Board of World Poker Tour Enterprises told Eolis, "The WPT has re-evaluated its decision to make a charitable donation a condition for participation in the WPT Ladies Championship." He added, "In the future there will be no such requirement in a WPT championship event."

Separately, Mr. Berman took the opportunity to express his support of the World Poker Association. He has joined the WPA as a professional member. In welcoming him into the Association, Eolis said, "With Lyle, the Association has acquired one of the leading lights in the poker world. The WPA will benefit from his wisdom and commitment to the professionalism of poker. We look forward to his active participation."

PRO CHARITY ALL ALONG

From the inception of WPA operations, the WPA has demonstrated its commitment to charitable giving.

Last summer the WPA conducted a raffle drawing to benefit hungry children in Las Vegas. And similar plans are underway this year, both at the WPA's First Annual Conference and during its Annual Membership Drive to raise monies for worthy causes.

Isaacs and her poker club colleagues who boycotted the WPT's Ladies event this year have made clear they are also very pro charity. Isaacs says, "We were completely amenable to promoting the tournament and encouraging women to contribute to SGK from their prize winnings, as appropriate to their individual bankrolls- if the WPT would just make the donations optional."

Steve Lipscomb, founder and CEO of the World Poker Tour explained to Eolis his strategy in planning the Ladies Championship; advancing opportunities for women in poker to get television coverage while aligning WPT and the players with a good cause.

One hundred fifty players entered the event. The WPA is pleased that SGK has been the beneficiary of a significant gift from the poker community.

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