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Betfair Tries to Hook Ladies
Although poker popularity has increased exponentially in the last few years,
it still has a lot of expanding to do when it comes to at least one key
demographic. Long considered a domain of men, various businesses that make
their money off of the gambling habits of others are now turning towards
putting a spin on the game that will appeal to a more feminine market.
Perhaps because of the conjured up images of poker night as a sacrosanct
evening for the boys, away from the hassles of work and the family, eating
chips and smoking cigars while belching and dealing, women and poker have
never quite mixed. It might also have something to do with sexist portrayals
of strip poker events, and women have an innate fear that participating in a
game will inevitably lead to some card suggesting clothes as stakes.
Whatever the reason, the world of poker and females have never quite seemed
a natural fit. Betfair Online Poker Room is betting it can change all that,
however, with a new campaign that is targeting the female poker demographic
in its latest promotional initiative. Based on research by the company that
had attendance at the 2004 World Series of Poker Ladies Night event at 201
entrants, and then tripling for the 2005 event, Betfair is banking that
poker is becoming a hit among the ladies. Betfair is using this information
as the base of a new campaign to crown the Betfair Poker Goddess. The title
will pass on to the most skilled ladies poker player as determined by the
room’s Ladies Night campaign, taking place every Tuesday. Players can learn
the basics and take part in women-only tournaments, and the winner of the
whole shebang will receive a seat at this year’s World Series of Poker.
Additionally, Betfair is offering a Hunk at Home project. This promotion
will be won by five different female players. Betfair will be sending a
hunky male host to the homes of the women, to participate in a night of
poker, wine, and food with the winner and nine of her friends. The
promotions are coming on the heels of a rise in Betfair’s percentage of
female players, which has risen to 10% of all players, up from 7% in 2004.
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