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LOUISE ULRICK WINS POKERSTARS x POKER POWER WOMEN’S BOOTCAMP SHOWDOWN IN CYPRUS
There was a thrilling conclusion to the PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp Showdown at European Poker Tour (EPT) Cyprus with British player Louise Ulrick emerging victorious, winning a full package to EPT Prague this December.
The 55-year-old former maths teacher, turned licensee consultant, had never played a hand of poker until a few months ago but came out on top defeating American Katie Hopkins heads-up.
“I can’t believe it,” Ulrick told the PokerStars Blog after her victory. “Obviously winning was the objective of coming, but you never quite think it’s going to happen. I didn’t feel confident when we were practicing live. I felt clumsy with all the cards and the chips and everything, but today came together.
PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp Showdown Results
- Louise Ulrick – Former maths teacher
- Katie Hopkins – Associate General Counsel at Nasdaq, focusing on securities law
- Laura Lebailly – French student studying Luxury Marketing
- Sabrina Chevannes – Women’s international chess master who runs a London-based creative agency
- Katerena Nowosad – Accountant for a financial services company
- Drea Renee – TV reporter and massage therapist
- Yvonne Mai – Actress
- Jenny Larson – Charity Associate Executive Director
- Patrice Gordon – Leadership Development consultant specialising in reverse mentoring
- Ines Lafosse – Photographer, content creator and hotelier
Ulrick was one of 40 women who took part in an eight-week female-only poker bootcamp hosted by PokerStars and Poker Power, which saw women from around the world – who had no previous poker experience – learn and hone their skills.
“Anybody who is thinking about learning poker, it is such a good game to play,” continued Ulrick. “You can learn so much about yourself. There are online resources that are great to have a go at. And have a go!”
Following the intense programme which included weekly practice games and mentoring from PokerStars Team Pro Jen Shahade, the 40 recruits battled it out in Home Games Tournaments with ten awarded the chance to travel to EPT Cyprus to compete in the Ultimate Showdown.
Rebecca McAdam Willetts, Director of Partnerships, PR and Consumer Engagement said, “We are thrilled to be celebrating Louise as this year’s Women’s Bootcamp Champion and can’t wait to see how she gets on at EPT Prague. It has also been incredibly inspiring and rewarding to watch this group of women, and the community of women in poker around them, supporting each other and shining a light. The response from women around the world to this year’s bootcamp has been wonderful, with the number of participants increasing by over 400%. This, and the research we conducted earlier in the year, shows how vital it is to continue supporting women and activating our long-term plans to see more women take part, have fun and above all feel safe and comfortable at the poker table.”
Erin Lydon, President of Poker Power said, “Our innovative bootcamp program with PokerStars provides women with the platform and opportunity to go from zero to hero in an inclusive and supportive environment. All participants worked diligently during the Bootcamp and we hope that they each take away the strategies and skills developed through playing poker and apply them to their everyday lives. We are excited to congratulate Louise as the winner of the Showdown and very proud of all women who have taken their seats and begun their poker journey with us. Louise is proof that anyone can devote time, effort and study to this great game and triumph.”
Research conducted by PokerStars earlier this year, revealed that 55 per cent of women did not feel poker was inclusive to them, despite almost half (42 per cent) of women who play believing it helped improve their focus, concentration and decision-making ability.
In response, PokerStars teamed up with Poker Power to launch their second female-focused bootcamp to help women build their confidence and skills in poker, as well as provide a safe space for them to learn and play. Each recruit was taught game-play skills over eight weeks, that can translate to real world success including negotiation, strategic decision-making, and capital allocation.
Alistair Johnston CCO at Push Gaming
Push Gaming appoints Jonathan Moretta as Head of Account Management
The iGaming supplier says the hire supports its partnership strategy and 2026 commercial plans.
Push Gaming has appointed Jonathan Moretta as Head of Account Management as it continues to refine its partnership strategy.
The supplier said Moretta brings more than six years’ experience in the iGaming sector, with a track record of managing partnerships across “key global markets.” The company positioned the appointment as part of its strategic goals for 2026, alongside planned expansion of its commercial and operational infrastructure.
Jonathan Moretta, Head of Account Management at Push Gaming, said: “Push Gaming works with a number of quality partners and I can’t wait to continue solidifying those key relationships. The quality of Push Gaming’s products are undeniable and my goal will be to ensure that this quality is reflected in how we communicate with our key accounts; whether that be highlighting existing favourites or presenting new titles from our upcoming roadmap.”
Alistair Johnston, CCO at Push Gaming, added: ”I am thrilled to welcome Jonathan to the team. He will be instrumental in delivering Push Gaming’s commercial strategy, leading from the front with a proven leadership style. Jonathan brings a transcontinental network of key industry players, underpinned by a rare talent for building the kind of great relationships that skyrocket growth.”
The post Push Gaming appoints Jonathan Moretta as Head of Account Management appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Midnite is bringing back its “Midnite Express” fan travel initiative, offering free coach transport for Southampton supporters to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday, April 25.
The betting brand said three luxury coaches will take more than 100 fans on the round trip from St Mary’s Stadium to Wembley. The company positioned the move as a response to fan requests on social media following Southampton’s FA Cup win over Arsenal.
The trip also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Southampton’s 1976 FA Cup win at Wembley. Midnite said it recently marked that moment with a dedicated TIFO during Southampton’s match with Arsenal, created with a fan-led TIFO committee.
Fans travelling on the coaches will be joined by former Southampton players Shane Long, Franny Benali and Ken Monkou, according to the company.
Andrew Mook, Head of Brand Marketing at Midnite, said: “The response to the Midnite Express this season has been incredible and when fans asked for it to return, we were keen to deliver.
“Supporting Saints fans is central to what we do, whether that is easing the challenges around travel or helping create memorable experiences around the game.
“This is a huge moment for Southampton, especially in such an important anniversary year, and we are proud to help fans get there to support their team.
“We hope this journey will make the match day experience even better.”
The post Midnite runs free coaches for Southampton fans to FA Cup semi-final at Wembley appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The Mill Adventure (TMA) has strengthened its integration with Optimove to expand player engagement and CRM capabilities for iGaming operators, the companies said.
TMA said the enhanced integration adds deeper audience segmentation, including Optimove’s Target Group Discovery, to help operators build granular player profiles and activate engagement based on player behaviour and preferences.
The update also connects Optimove directly to TMA’s proprietary bonus engine, which TMA said allows operators to trigger and distribute personalised rewards within CRM journeys. Messaging can be orchestrated through Optimove across email, SMS, web and mobile push notifications, as well as inbox messaging.
Bjørnar Heggernes, CCO at The Mill Adventure, said: “We are focused on equipping operators with the right tools they need to deliver meaningful, data-driven engagement at scale. This enhanced integration with Optimove strengthens our ability to support highly personalised player journeys, combining powerful segmentation, real-time communication and seamless reward execution within a unified platform.
“By bringing these capabilities together, we are helping our partners simplify their operations while delivering richer, more relevant experiences that drive long-term value.”
Adi Dagan, Senior Director of Partnership at Optimove, said: “The Mill Adventure’s iGaming operators benefit from its scalable and automated tools for optimising their casino suite. With this integration, The Mill Adventure operators can use real-time data, advanced segmentation and multichannel orchestration to deliver more relevant player experiences and act on them faster.
“Our partnership with The Mill Adventure represents a significant step forward in enabling operators to execute smarter, more effective CRM strategies. We are excited to support TMA’s continued growth as they empower operators to build deeper, more meaningful relationships with their players.”
The post The Mill Adventure deepens Optimove integration for player engagement appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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