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Kerryjane Craigie, a PokerStars Ambassador and Director of Poker at the Hippodrome Casino, has been busy navigating a whirlwind of poker events. But the highlight of her recent journey was the Women’s Winter Festival, a groundbreaking collaboration between The Hippodrome Casino and PokerStars.

Focused on creating a welcoming, inclusive, and joy-filled environment, the festival showcased the very best of what poker can offer. In this blog, Craigie reflects on the festival’s success, the importance of positivity in poker, and her mission to celebrate the game’s unique sense of community.

Let’s change the narrative and own the story…

I’ve recently been immersed in a whirlwind of travel and poker, NAPT Las Vegas, the Malta Poker Festival and finally EPT Prague, and I can confidently say it’s been an incredibly enjoyable experience.

Luck wasn’t always on my side, and the outcomes weren’t always what I’d hoped for, I would have loved more than one flag and bagged up for day two or even had an FT finish. But I gave it my best effort, and that’s what matters most—focusing on what I can control.

The Rewarding Live Poker Experience

What truly stood out was the camaraderie, light-hearted banter, and overall good vibes at the table. Across more than ten tournaments, I’ve not encountered any negative or demonstrative behavior, which is a testament to the positive atmosphere that poker can offer.

This is what I believe we should focus on: the good times. After all, isn’t that a big part of why we play poker? The thrill of the game, the application of skill and strategy, the results, and the enjoyment—these are what make poker so rewarding.

And the Women’s Winter Festival, a collaboration between The Hippodrome Casino and PokerStars had enjoyment by the bucket load! There was laughter in every moment, spontaneous singing, and I’ve since learned new friends and relationships formed between many that attended that will last a lifetime.

You simply cannot describe how incredibly fantastic the atmosphere was and how unlike any other tournament I have ever been part of, as player or organiser.

I’m immensely proud of what we achieved, the schedule and structures that provided a great player experience, the safe and comfortable playing environment, a respectful place and the reason I love poker - there was great play and the very reason we created this event.

Positivity the Way Forward

As an ambassador for women in poker, I’m deeply passionate about showcasing how great women can be at this game and encouraging more to join. But my mission has never been about criticizing or admonishing the majority at the tables. That’s not the narrative I want to tell. We celebrated just as much when the gents came in and took part too - in fact I think we surprised a lot of them of how much fun a poker tournament can be and they understood why women’s events have their place in the calendar.

So, here’s the challenge I’ve set for myself: every interview, post, blog, or comment I make from now on will focus on positivity. We don’t need to elevate women in poker by dwelling on the negatives. Highlighting bad behavior only gives it unnecessary attention and rarely teaches us anything useful—other than how to rise above it with grace.

And I extend that challenge to all of you: let’s ignore the noise, celebrate the positives, and leave the negativity behind. Let those who choose to dwell in it stay there alone.

We are better than that! And we’ve just proved it!

Kerryjane Craigie, a PokerStars Ambassador and Director of Poker at the Hippodrome Casino, is leading the charge with the upcoming Women’s Winter Festival. This event aims to elevate inclusivity in poker and create new opportunities for women in the game.

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