Casino Arizona to host ladies-only poker championship

Arizona recently had its first state poker championship at the Casino Arizona, and now the casino will present the Inaugural Ladies State Poker Championship as well Sept. 16. This No-Limit Texas Hold'em event will have a guaranteed prize pool of $100,000 with a payout for the top 40 players.

Approximately 400 women are expected to show up to the play in the tournament. Players from Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri, and Maryland are already registered to play as well as women from the home-state, according to Casino Arizona's poker room manager Kent Odekirk.

The tournament champion will receive $40,000, a $7,000 diamond championship pendent, and a trophy.

The buy-in for the event is $250, plus a $25 entry fee, which gives the players $5,000 in tournament chips. Women can sign up to play at the main poker cage at the casino or by calling the Casino Arizona box office.