photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Wendeen H. Eolis playing in the 2007 WSOP ME Our favorite power poker dame, Wendeen H. Eolis, is the CEO of New York based Eolis International Group a legal/business consultancy. She can just as easily be found conferring with world leaders or sitting with the boys at a high stakes poker table. The last few years she has generously given many hours of her valuable time to the tournament poker industry and has shared her considerable political expertise in the continuing pursuit of legalizing online poker for US poker players. Now for the good news.

Eolis is a charter member of the World Series of Poker Players Advisory Counsel (PAC). PAC was established by WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack in January 2006 with the goal of providing WSOP participants with a continuously upgraded tournament poker playing experience. Many of the PAC goals were accomplished in part through Pollack’s undivided attention and subsequent rapid response to PAC’s suggestions and player complaints. He also promised the PAC participants, “No topics will be off limits.”

Evidence of the success of Pollack’s PAC was easily found at the 2008 WSOP. Most everyone at the 2008 WSOP agreed it was, hands down, the best WSOP to date. Improved food, well thought out physical layout, record crowds but no long lines, separate satellite areas, isolated smoking areas, great fan access and improved event scheduling were just a few of the enhancements.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Jesse Jones playing in the 2008 WSOP And now the bad news. About the same time during 2006 poker professional Jesse Jones decided to establish an organization, World Poker Association (WPA), of poker players that could present a united front and empower players with control of the worldwide tournament poker industry. Unfortunately, Jones insisted that the organization strictly adhere to his personal agenda with long range goals of bringing every poker tournament under the control of his WPA.

The details of the WPA’s up and down existence is detailed in the second and concluding installment of Wendeen H. Eolis’ article, Inside Scoop on Poker Player Activism Part 2 of 2, now running as the feature on Poker Player Newspaper. If you missed Part 1 it is conveniently included with the article. Everyone with an interest in the behind the scenes of poker politics should give this a read, especially if you’re considering contributing to or joining a poker player organization.

FYI: Power Poker Dameis the title of Wendeen H. Eolis’ upcoming book.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Day 1A of the 2008 WSOP Main Event