I received a flyer from Harrahs and one section of it is titled ‘2007, Gaming, Life Expo, Girls, Games, Gear – this part is copied and pasted from their website: “The Gaming Life Expo, the gaming-themed consumer trade show that occurs during the World Series of Poker, is an event like no other. The 2006 event was a tremendous success attracting over 100 companies and 100,000 attendees. In 2007, the expo will become The Gaming Life Expo-Girls, Games, and Gear. The name change reflects the expansion of the theme to reflect that of “men’s lifestyle”. The event runs concurrently with the opening days of the Main Event, 11 AM to 6 PM each day, July 5-8, 2007, and will be held in the Rio Pavilion.”
Not only is it fascinating that Harrahs seems to feel that all of this evolves and happens because of MEN – obviously women are there only as show pieces to bring men in – and WOMEN have absolutely nothing to do with the development of poker and are not interested in it as a player or even wanting to see exhibits aimed at them, the flyer states that in 2006 over 100,000 people visited the expo. You damn tooting they did. They didn’t have a choice. They were funneled through the expo to gain entrance to the gaming/tournament area. That by its self created irritation and confusion amongst many of the players and family coming to visit the players.
So in essence, men have a lifestyle, women don’t. We know our place. We keep everything together, raise families, pay the bills, work jobs, do most of the tidy bowl chores, try to make our significant other happy (if we have one), and play a little poker when we have time. Obviously we are not to be considered in any of the planning concepts that are laid out for a MAN’S WORLD. Kee-rist! Harrahs is over the top on blatant idiocy in advertising from my HPOV.
Nice to see Harrah’s make true the thesis of my entire doctoral dissertation, that live poker creates an environment hostile to female players, particularly at the WSOP. I never imagined that my argument would become so… concrete.
As much as the feminist in me thinks the whole thing is just gross, the pragmatist understands that 95% of poker players are men and it makes sense for the Gaming & Life Expo to revolve around companies that market to that demographic. I mean, if you were a marketing exec at Fox, you wouldn’t run ads for DIE HARD 4 on the season finale of "Gilmore Girls" would you?
Unfortunately, women have very little do do with the development of poker as it stands now. Our numbers are increasing,though and it’s not to say that women can’t have a strong impact on poker marketing in the future. We’re just way outnumbered at present and corporations are going to spend their marketing dollars where it makes sense. Believe me, I want womens’ voices to be heard in the poker world. And right now the best way for us to do that is to keep showing up. Keep playing. Keep writing. Keep talking about the game. Keep bringing more women to the tables.
Though I must say– being forced to walk through that damn thing on the way in to the tournament area was hands-down the worst part of my day during last year’s Main Event.
Simple acknowledgment of the fact ‘you girls’ refuse to recognize: Men are the superior chromosome. That applies to poker and life style. Simple acknowledgment by an outstanding company of the fact.
The superior job they do with chip counts, media support, low fees, great structures and the myriad of details shows what a knowledgeable company Harrahs is in knowing what is going on in the world…or at least how to try to squeeze every last nickel out of the stallions. Now hop up on the Bodog bed in your scanties so I can have my picture taken with you.
What they also don’t mention is the ‘meat’ of the booths will be gone this year. I don’t think there will be a single online poker site sponsoring a booth other there this year.
The lack of this booth should make a pretty bland expo in comparision to last year.