“Harassment-free” Ladies Event at Doug Polk Poker Room gets $50k Bonus from Bill Perkins

Bill Perkins has responded to the recent outcry about a man entering and winning a Ladies Only event by putting up $50k as a guaranteed overlay for the upcoming $500 buy-in Lodge Poker Club Ladies tournament. Perkins wants it to be a “no-punk-ass men harassment-free space”.

Florida player David Hughes sparked a Twitter frenzy last month when he took down the $250 buy-in Ladies’ event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Ebony Kenney and others put a bounty on Hughes’ head, but it wasn’t enough to prevent him from winning the $5,555 top prize. Kenney later revealed that Hughes was planning to enter more women-only events.

Perkins, one of those unhappy with the situation, decided he would throw $50k into the pot at The Lodge Poker Club Ladies-only event. 

“I think it was a troll thing to do, to deny a group that has historically been harassed and underappreciated that title,” Perkins explained to Poker.org of Hughes’ win. “There’s been a rash of posts about female poker players being harassed for their sexuality, looks, or other issues. I have daughters. So, I just thought: 1) The Lodge event would really be good for poker, and ladies need a break in this game. 2) A no-punk-ass men harassment-free space would be great. 3) Most of all, it will be fun.”

Perkins has also thrown in a potential $25k deal for the tournament winner to promote his book Die With Zero, explaining it “sweetens the pot for the final table and creates more tension and drama”.

Jamie Kerstetter was among those looking forward to the event, and said of the promotion offer, “it might be time to do a little light reading on the plane, it could make you a lot of money!”

However, when asked what the rules were for being classed as a woman, Perkins tweeted:

“I'll just go with born with a uterus for giggles..., adding, “I was born in the canceled culture, I really DGAF,” when asked about the possible effect of his anti-trans statement.

The Lodge Poker Club in Austin, Texas is owned by Andrew Neeme, Brad Owen, and Doug Polk, and are able to limit the event to women-only, unlike the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

“We are a private club. We can control the entries however we like,” Lodge partner Mike Brady is reported as saying.