California Says Nay To Ladies Only Events
February 03, 2008 - Deanna Goodson
We’ve got to say that we’re all about equality in the game of poker here at Chicksnchips.com. We want to see a 50/50 split of men and women at the poker table. We want more women to break the glass ceiling of the game like Annette Obrestad did at the 2007 WSOPE Main Event. We need more women, especially talented, women in poker.
We support ‘ladies’ events because they are a comfortable breeding ground for poker talent. The buy-ins are usually more affordable for women who still earn less than men. The atmosphere is convivial. There’s no sexist jerk sitting at the table making snide comments and silly innuendo talk. For those of you who don't think it happens...we can tell you from experience that it does.
Unfortunately, some people miss the boat on ladies-only events. They feel that they are discriminatory and, in a weird way, sexist … because they discourage men from entering.
On January 28, 2008, the Bureau of Gaming Control in California sent a special communiqué to the gaming establishments in The Golden State. In it, they stated that:
Under the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Civil code sections 51 and 51.5), businesses may not discriminate in admittance prices, or services offered to customers based on the customers sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, martial status, or sexual orientation. "Ladies Only" tournaments or any other promotional events that fail to admit men and women to advertised activities on an equal basis regardless of sex are unlawful. It may also be unlawful under the Unruh Act to advertise tournaments as "ladies only" even if men are in fact admitted.
From now on:
The Bureau will approve only those events that include the following features: the event will be open to all customers, the promotional gifts will be given equally to all participants, the fees and prices will be the same for all event participants, any discounts will not be based on gender or another personal characteristics protected by the Unruh Act, and the events promotional materials do not advertise gender-based discounts or imply a gender-based entrance policy or any other unlawful discriminatory practice
In adherence with this policy, California card rooms will make sure that their advertisements and room guidelines use the proper verbiage from now on. They will take out the word “ONLY” if it was ever used at all (in many cases it never was) and allow men to register in any event they wish to play in.
Most ladies events, including the LIPS Tour, have registered men who desired to play all along, and will continue to do so.
Why the BCG is taking issue with this now we just don’t fully understand? There are women-only tennis events, women-only golf events and so forth. Are these also discriminatory? We really don’t think so and would hate to see a silly precedent get set in this case.
However, we welcome men into any ladies-predominant events in California and anywhere else. Contrary to what some men may think, they aren’t a walk in the park. We can’t wait for you to show us what you’ve got…on the felt.
And, we’d love to be a fly on the wall when you tell your drinking buddies how you became a LIPS Tour champion or what have you.
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