WPA Launches Certification Program to Attract More Women Into Poker

Summary

• The WPA aims to address the greatest barrier for women who want to play poker
• The new program highlights the huge role that poker rooms play in creating a more welcoming environment for women
• Male players are also encouraged to support the WPA by becoming a purple tie guy

Female players experience various forms of harassment, bullying, and discrimination inside poker rooms.

This is one of the main reasons why women are discouraged to play poker, and poker room operators have a vital role to play in dealing with this ongoing problem, according to the Women’s Poker Association (WPA).

WPA’s president and founder Lupe Soto said the unwelcoming environment in poker rooms is the biggest barrier for women entering into the game. Until operators realize this, attracting more female players into the game will remain an uphill battle.

Through the organization’s new poker room certification program, women who want to play poker will have some peace of mind that the poker room they’re entering has some policies in place to eliminate negative behavior directed at female players.

WPA Certification Requirements

To become WPA-certified, poker rooms must agree to a number of conditions set out by the organization.

The rooms must make their anti-harassment rules clearly visible to everyone by displaying them near the entrance. The rules must include zero tolerance for harassment or abuse. Operators must also carry out cultural awareness and sensitivity staff training every year.

Once they’ve been certified, they should display the WPA Certification in the room and include it in their branding, social media, and ad campaigns. They must also support the WPA’s #RaiseItUp campaign and spread the word about the organization on social media.

The Boston Billiard Club and Casino in New Hampshire already received approval from the WPA, making it the first room to be WPA-certified. The organization is currently processing more applications with more rooms showing interest in joining the campaign.

It will soon be easier for female players to identify which rooms are WPA-certified as the organization is planning to provide a directory of certified rooms on its website.

Purple Tie Guy

The WPA is also encouraging male players to become part of the campaign by joining the Purple Tie Guy program. They may publicly show their support for the organization’s missions and advocacies by wearing a patch and posting a short video on social media with the following hashtags: #wpapurpletieguy, imapurpletieguy, #purpletieguy.

@WPAGlobal created a new program and marketing campaign designed specifically for men that support women who play poker, introducing Purple Tie Guys! Meet of our Purple Tie Guy Ambassadors & WPA Supporter, Alex Outhred.

Read about Purple Tie Guys here: https://t.co/CVnAs0sRtp pic.twitter.com/RHxUyNzJV6

— Women’s Poker Association (@WPAGlobal) November 15, 2021