NICOLE ROWE SPEAKS OUT

If you have been following the blog since our coverage of the 2009 Poker Open has started, you would have read about Nicole Rowe and her second place finish in the Ladies Event #7. The significance wouldn't be that it was her second, second place finish in a Borgata Ladies event in 3 years, nor would it be that Nicole is facing a bout with breast cancer. Although it should be. Instead, the emphasis was on the fact that a guy played and outlasted her. Until now.

I sat down with Nicole and asked her about her experience. "You know, I really didn't notice that a man was playing until about half way through the tournament. There was a commotion at one of the other tables involving some women having a heated argument over a hand or something. Once we all looked up and asked questions what was going on, everyone made light of the fact that a man was playing."

Men playing in a ladies event is not new. Jose Conseco and Phil Gordan had played in the ladies event at the Commerce Casino in 2007 as a humorous attempt at some publicity. There have also been men that have played in the WSOP ladies event as well as sort of a joke. It certainly isn't new.

The issue this time around was that the "man" was doing well. He had acquired a massive chip stack mid way through and didn't seem to be letting up. With just about 7 tables left Nicole was moved to his table. "I had a nice stack myself and made a move with J's against a player who shoved on me. I made the call pre and she had Q's to which I never caught up. That left me with $15k in chips and being on fumes," said Rowe. "A few hands later I had open shoved with AK and Korotki made the call with a much lesser hand." She doubled up and continued on in the tournament with a healthy stack.

Everyone knows how this panned out and Nicole wanted to set the record straight. "I heard a lot of rumblings from some of the women about how they thought that Borgata should have taken a stance on not letting him play."

From both a legal and regulatory standpoint, NJ Casinos (which includes Borgata) must allow anyone who is over the age of 21 the opportunity to participate in all events. As such, when the "man" insisted upon gaining entry into the tournament, Borgata had no option but to allow him to participate. (FYI, the “law” referenced above is the federal anti-discrimination laws. Regulatory guidelines require NJ Casinos to permit anyone over 21 to enter into any such gaming event offered.)

Thus, from a legal standpoint, there is nothing any casino can do about preventing anyone playing in a "special tournament". Poker rooms count on the sensibilities of players to respect who and what the tournament is put together for. Unfortunately these days, it's more about what is legal than what is right.

"I couldn't be more happy with the Borgata, and I am proud to call them my home. I started my official live career here and will always play any events they put on over any other casino." Rowe was stoic in her response. "I really need to thank the Borgata for their graciousness, their generosity, and their support. What I will be going through is going to be much easier knowing the friends and what I would call family now, that I have earned at the Borgata."

We here on media row, and the entire Borgata staff, as well as many of the players wish her all the best and offer our support as she begins her battle against breast cancer.