An Academy Award-nominated actress, poker shows hostess, and accomplished player who also did OK on reality TV highlight the talented list of candidates for 2018 induction into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame.
Current members of the Hall and a select panel will cast ballots to determine which of the 11 nominees will be inducted in this year’s class. There are currently 19 members of the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, with Debbie Burkhead and Victoria Coren Mitchell joining the most recent class (2016).
Candidates must meet the following requirements for induction:
- Be at least 35 years old
- Worked in industry or played poker for at least 10 years
- Be a proponent of women in poker
- Contributed to the poker community in a significant way
Tough Choices
Voters will have a difficult time selecting 2-4 candidates from a list of individuals that includes Jennifer Tilly, Kara Scott, Maria Ho, and eight other women who have made significant contributions to the poker community.
Tilly, an Academy Award-nominated actress, won a WSOP bracelet in the 2005 ladies event and has competed in numerous high stakes cash games. She has also invested her time and money in promoting various charities.
“So honored to be in the company of these amazing women. It’s been a privilege to be a part of the poker community these past 13 years. I’ve met so many fantastic people,” Tilly tweeted.
Ho is one of the most accomplished women poker players in history with $2.7 million in live tournament winnings, including a runner-up finish in a WPT high roller event in Los Angeles. The former “Amazing Race” contestant is a commentator on PokerGO for events such as the World Series of Poker and Super High Roller Bowl.
Scott, an 888poker ambassador, is one of poker’s most popular television commentators. She has provided commentary for the WSOP, WPT, EPT, “High Stakes Poker,” Super High Roller Bowl, and other televised poker shows for many years.
Encouraging Women to Play
There’s no secret that men dominate the game of poker in terms of participation. Women represent less than five percent of entries in the WSOP Main Event in most years, and a majority of players at cash game tables around the world are men.
But for the game to continue to grow, more women must start playing. That’s why the Women in Poker Hall of Fame requires its potential candidates to be proponents of women in poker, and not just accomplished players.
Full list of 2018 Women in Poker Hall of Fame Nominees
Hermance Blum – from PokerStars PR to GM of WPT Europe
Mandy Glogow – World Poker Tour Supervising Producer
Jennifer Tilly – award-winning actress accomplished on the felt
Haley Hintze – journalist who helped expose AP/UB superuser cheating scandals
Angelica Hael – World Poker Tour VP who helped expand the tour to multiple continents
Maria Ho – 10th on all-time women’s money list, broadcaster, “The Amazing Race”
Karina Jett – longtime grinder and leader in poker charity efforts
Terry King – old-school poker pro who helped open Hollywood Park casino
Shirley Rosario – 25 years of achievement on the table and in the industry
Kara Scott – well-recognized poker hostess
Lupe Soto – industry veteran who founded the Women in Poker Hall of Fame as well as the LIPS Tour
