Nice try WPT
April 17, 2008
But the fact remains that the prestigious prize pools are built from the dollars of the players themselves and not the World Poker Tour. They have often been criticised for trying to capitalize too much off of the players efforts and images. Some argue it's just not right to demand the use of players images and subsequent endorsement of the WPT when the players are paying for these events themselves as well as paying tournament juice to the host casino.
That's why it was especially scandalous when the WPT recently tried to deduct an ADDITIONAL 15% from the prize pool of their upcoming ladies event to donate to charity. Charity is great, everyone likes to do their part and help out those in need from time to time. But it should always be a personal choice, not a mandate of entry into what is supposed to be a championship poker event!
A few ladies, led by WPA member Susie Isaacs decided to boycott the WPT event in protest over the mandatory donation deduction.
Isaacs and her poker club colleagues who boycotted the WPT's Ladies event have made it clear that they are actually very pro charity.
"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."
The WPT board subsequently backed down and chairman Lyle Berman had this to say; "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."
It's good to see that a good old fashioned boycott can still have an affect on corporate types these days. Charities are good - but donations should always be optional, otherwise it's not really a donation is it?
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