Christina Read, Katie Stone, Lexi Sterner, Meichelle Culhane and Terri Hatcher will all come up against international opposition, with a $30,000 ‘Platinum Pass’ to next year’s PokerStars Players Championship in the Bahamas up for grabs.

In what is traditionally a male-dominated industry, PokerStars has tried to improve representation and inclusivity with a particular focus on women in the game.

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2022, PokerStars issued a call to the community for nominations for key women in the industry who have inspired or otherwise had a significant impact on the game, players or at the table.

Additionally, the company held a virtual webinar featuring special guests Maggie Alphonsi MBE and Hannah Lucy Cockroft MBE, DL.

Hosted by Flutter Entertainment Global Director of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Greg McCaw and Betfair MD of Marketing Kim Daly, the webinar discussed the theme ‘Breaking the Bias’, and considered how to promote greater equality in sport.

In June, PokerStars officially launched in Ontario, after being granted full registration to operate by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

The approval allows PokerStars to offer its products to players in the region, encompassing poker, casino and sport, while presenting a localised schedule and offering.

Despite the operator's entry to the province coming later than expected, the news was seen as noteworthy, as the first ever hand of PokerStars was played in Ontario over two decades ago.