Personal Advocacy
Poker Industry Leadership
Wendeen H. Eolis has been an industry activist since her first record-setting performance for a woman at the World Series of Poker. She was the first woman to cash at the World Series of Poker (1986) and the first one to do so twice (1993); she counts six more WSOP cashes to her credit, as well as a first place finish in the European Open No Limit Event (1990). Awarded a commemorative chip in her owner by the WSOP (1996), for women's milestone's, she has been dubbed the "Grande Dame of Poker by the WSOP and has served as a member of the WSOP Players Advisory Council since 2006.
Major Issues
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Zero Tolerance for Abuse
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No Smoking Environment
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Integrity of Games
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Customer Service Excellence
- Professionalism in Competitions
Elevating Standards of Sportsmanship in the Poker Room
Wendeen Eolis has been a leader in taming a macho poker world, largely responsible for persuading the biggest poker room in Atlantic City to publish a zero tolerance policy toward abusive conduct. She followed up at the largest casino in North America,obtaining permanent eviction of an uncompromising "abuser."
Celebrating the Poker World
A long time media magnet, Ms. Eolis was filmed at Jack Binion's World Poker Open in Tunica, Mississippi for an A&E Biography Special that profiled her life. She co-anchored with Nancy Grace on CourtTV, a one-hour segment on the Binion legacy to the gaming world as part of a piece on the Ted Binion murder trial. And she trekked across the United States as a poker coach with author Elizabeth Gilbert as a starring protagonist in an article for GQ Magazine.
Stepping Up to The Plate for Unique Poker Events
Ms. Eolis directed and anchored the first live tournament podcast--the United States Poker Championship (1999). In 2001 she co-anchored the filmed production of Tournament of Champions which served as the pilot for the World Poker Tour. Her televised broadcasts included a commentating gig for ESPN at the 19987 WSOP and a special appearance during the final event at the last Binion's Horseshoe hosted main event.
Using the Media to Raise Awareness of Issues
Eolis has been a pioneer in poker trade publications, digging deeply into the culture, the business, and legal issues of the industry while others were still concentrating on lighter-hearted fare primarily focused on promoting poker rooms and their events. Since 2000, Eolis has published penetrating articles for virtually every major poker publication including major investigatory pieces.
Giving Heart to Charitable Poker
Eolis was a sponsored by Elle Magazine/ and the American Heart Association's Inaugural Queens of Heart team at the WSOP Ladies Event (2006) and in all succeeding years has donated poker coaching sessions, people reading seminars and appearances as a an internationally recognized poker personality at more than a dozen different major charitable events.
Championing Players Rights
Crusader in successful anti-smoking campaign that resulted in smoke-free poker rooms internationally.
Ist Chairman of the World Poker Association to be elected by the membership and principal architect of the WPA Ethics Code approved by the membership.
Producer of WPA's first educational conference and the WPA- WSOP partnership for a WSOP event including newly formulated WPA tournament rules.
Mediator, settling the famous 2008 "dust up" between a women's group and the World Poker Tour.
Member of the WSOP's Players Advisory Council; also chaired the WSOP International Players Advisory Council.
