The first player has booked her spot at the live final competition in the Betfair Poker Goddess event. ‘Kate0’ qualified for the tournament while playing online poker for the first time last week.

The women-only tournament will take place in London on April 20. The winner of this event will be crowned the Betfair Poker Goddess and go to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. This is the latest Betfair Poker initiative to introduce more women to the online game.

Tuesday has become ladies night at Betfair Poker, with a new pink webpage set up for the girls, where female players can learn the basics and play in women-only tournaments. Entry to the event is available to any female player who wins one of the free tournaments on Ladies Night, every Tuesday, before March 28.

There is also the opportunity to ‘ask the ladies’: where players can pose questions to three of Betfair Poker’s top female players: Bella, Lisa and Francine.

Betfair are looking to capitalise on the upsurge in women’s interest in the game. Their statistics show that the proportion of women playing on Betfair Poker has grown. In 2004, women only represented 7% of all online players, now they account for more than 10% (43% growth).

“We are trying to give women what they want,” said Betfair’s Head of Poker Ben Fried, “an opportunity to learn the game in a less testosterone-driven environment.”

“Poker players are gaining an increasing celebrity status. Players like Gus Hansen and Devilfish are all recognizable names. Women are starting to get the same kind of popularity and respect; we want the Betfair Poker Goddess to join the charge.”