By Alexis Russell

09/08/2008

                With the advent of online poker has come an influx of female poker players taking to the virtual tables.  The internet poker rooms have seen a huge boost in play because of this new field of players quickly catching on to the sport.  However, live action tournaments have yet to see the ladies pouring in.

                That’s because unlike the anonymous world of online poker, women still feel reluctant to enter the male dominated world of casino and live poker room tournaments.  But Lauren Failla is out to change that.  An avid poker player herself who has participated in events like the Ladies' Event at the World Series of Poker, Failla has noticed the lack of female representation at the poker tables and is doing something about it.

                The High Heels Poker Tour was Failla’s answer.  She is currently the tour founder, president, and CEO leading the tournament circuit into its first anniversary in October.  What Failla has seen so far has encouraged her to keep going to serve the needs of the female poker population.  Not only does Failla want to encourage female players to come off line and experience poker live play, she wants to bring new women into the sport and improve their playing.

                The High Heels Poker Tour has already helped in the effort, partly due to the fact that Failla has intentionally made the tournament and its schedule female friendly by scheduling tournaments for weekends and keeping the buy-ins very reasonable.  Unlike other tournaments, the High Heel Poker Tour takes into account that women are mothers with children to take care of and mouths to feed.  With the presence of women in poker swelling to approx. 10-15% other tournaments could soon have to start doing the same.