Today, the newly-renovated Venetian Poker Room, alongside Jamie Kerstetter and friends, will host a Women's Meet Up Game (MUG), starting at 1pm local time. The tables will spread low stakes No-Limit Hold'em games and Venetian has generously agreed to donate prizes for giveaways.
We reached out to Kerstetter to hear more about today's MUG, and plans for future games at the Venetian Poker Room.
What type of atmosphere do you want to see at a MUG?
Welcoming, comfortable and fun.
How do you balance trying to have fun for yourself while also ensuring all other attendees have a good time?
It feels similar to when you plan a party - there is a lot of fun (and relief) in seeing everyone else enjoying themselves.
Do you alter your playstyle at all at a MUG or do you keep it professional and play your A game?
I don't think I have played a single hand of poker at the previous four women's MUGs – they have felt so busy. Venetian MUGs will be different I hope, I am itching to play some cards!
Can you give us a sneak preview of some of the giveaway items?
JK: Venetian generously donated the prizes for the first MUG, including a package to their amazing Canyon Ranch Spa. For future MUGs, Tommy LaRosa is letting me plan how to spend their giveaway budget, so you can expect a bunch of puppies to be given out. I am kidding, unless Venetian says I am allowed to give away dogs, in which case I am serious.
Are there plans in the works to run regular Women's MUGs at Venetian?
We are planning to run one per month this year, so long as the demand is there. A couple of the largest women's groups including LIPS and WPA have helped get the word out to their members, so shout out to Lupe Soto and Tara Smith who have always been such huge supporters of women in poker, and a big personal help to me.
How effective do you think Women's MUGs are in growing the game for women?
JK: There have been a couple dozen women who had never played a hand of live poker before coming to a women's MUG. The best feeling is when the official MUG is over and the giveaways are long gone, and the room is still full of women grinding poker. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to try live poker for the first time, and I hope these MUGs provide the type of atmosphere that eases a new player into the game we all love.
