Poker industry veteran Rebecca McAdam Willetts has been nominated for induction into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to the industry.
In a candid conversation with PokerNews, McAdam Willetts reflects on her remarkable career journey—from her early days as a poker reporter and presenter to her pioneering efforts in driving global engagement and mainstream awareness.
Reaction to the Nomination
When McAdam Willetts learned she had been nominated for the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame, she admits she was caught off guard.
“I had no idea,” she recalled. “I checked my phone, and there were several texts that I hadn’t seen. The first one I read was Lance Bradley celebrating it with the kindest of words and sending me the link.
“I’ve spent so long promoting the game and other brands that I’ve had to get comfortable in promoting myself”
“And then the messages started flooding in from friends and peers such as Francine [Watson], Alex [O’Brien], and Jen [Shahade] – I was so happy to see Jen’s name there with me because I wouldn’t want to have been up there with anyone else.”
McAdam Willetts admitted that she has been slow to even acknowledge the nomination, as she didn’t want to seem “egotistical” about the honor.
“I’ve spent so long promoting other people and other brands that I’ve had to get comfortable in promoting myself,” she said.
Career Reflections and Promoting Poker
McAdam Willetts’s nomination to the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the poker community.
“I’ve never seen myself as not part of the community,” she said. “Because I started as a player, I’ve always approached everything through that lens. I’ve had the pleasure of promoting the game from all angles, as a player, presenter, journalist, and then from the inside out with an operator. That gave me a solid understanding for what is needed to get the game I love out into the world while being authentic and creating great things for the community to enjoy.
“Obviously, I’ve done a lot specifically for women in poker, and I wouldn’t want to ignore that, but I’ve promoted the wider game basically all my career.”
Having run the PR “machine” for PokerStars, reaching a huge variety of audiences through broadcast, digital, and partnerships, McAdam Willets says she always tried to do it in a way that engaged people in the community, its stories and the strategic nature of the game instead of feeling like an advert.
“It’s crazy to think I’ve spent decades trying to keep the fire burning in poker, to grow the game and continue improving it, but there is something truly special about this community that draws you in. There’s a magic that happens that when someone new sees it, they want to be a part of it. I’ve spent many years digging at that to shine a light on it. So, to be nominated now for this, is truly an honour”
Even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, McAdam Willetts stepped up to support the community, with live event dealers hired in customer support, live reporters hired to write on online events and organizing the Stars Call for Action, which raised over $1 million for charity.
“We had more than 90 celebrities playing poker together with their webcams on, it was madness!” she explained. “I don’t think that’s ever been done, and I got them to do solely in the name of charity. I then rolled that into mini celebrity home games with Hank Azaria, just trying to do as much good in darker moments, while being as responsible as possible.”
Recognition and Contribution to the Community
As McAdam Willetts reflected on her remarkable career journey, she highlighted her multifaceted contributions to the poker industry as a global champion for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, and someone who cares about the entire poker community.
“Although it’s a passion and I’ve done an awful lot for women who work and play in the industry, creating opportunities, bootcamps and educational experiences, and pushing for a safer and more comfortable live arena and working environment, I’ve spent the bulk of the past 20 years doing things for the entire poker community,” she explained.
McAdam Willetts has led campaigns promoting online and live events, creating value-led initiatives for the community, sponsorships of industry events and player initiatives, Vegas takeovers, and her favourite, ‘surprise and delight’ such as Platinum Pass community giveaways. She values and promotes transparency in how operators and event organizers speak to the community, and she even created an insights community during her time at Stars to hear directly from the female community.
From her early days as a poker reporter and presenter to her pioneering efforts in driving global engagement and mainstream awareness for the sport, McAdam Willetts has left an indelible mark.
“I believe I was the first Irish reporter on the international tours, the first Irish poker author,” she noted. “And now this… it’s just incredible.”
McAdam Willetts also played a crucial role in launching PokerStars in different markets, changing the PR team into a focus on consumer engagement, and spearheading innovative partnerships with UFC, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, and Red Bull Racing, as well as marketing campaigns like Platinum Pass.
“The Red Spade Pass was my baby. It introduced outside audiences into poker in a way that’s friendly to them, but it also gave poker players something else to be excited about, too. Concepts that go beyond a name on a car or an on-ice banner. That led to working with the regulator in Canada to be the first to allow an experiential giveaway within the iGaming space. I always believe in pushing boundaries.
“And the UFC partnership was incredible, going to Brazil, creating sand sculptures on the beach with massive poker pop-ups next to the Octagon. Being the first to put the spade on Team Red Bull’s hub caps and creating memorable trips won through our game. All of that shines a light on poker.”
What the Future Holds
As McAdam Willetts contemplates the next chapter of her career, she remains focused on her passion for the game and her desire to continue making a positive impact.
“I throw myself 100% into anything I do”
“If I had gone down the playing road, I probably wouldn’t have done all this stuff,” she reflected. “I love to play, but there’s just not a lot of time — I throw myself 100% into anything I do! Whenever I can, though, I’ll jump into a cash game to wipe some of the cobwebs off. I still love it!”
“There are probably so many people like me who are doing a lot behind the scenes. It was so nice to see myself beside the people that are so in the limelight because it’s hard to do these things as a woman in the industry we’re in.”
McAdam Willets recently founded QueenBHive, a public relations and marketing company that also has an arm supporting women-owned brands, particularly those in fields that are traditionally male-dominated. Amazingly, she started QueenBHive while pregnant with her daughter and says that her career so far has empowered her to take the plunge into this new exciting business.
“And if my career as a whole has shown me one thing, it’s that you don’t have to ever compromise your values and principles to make progress or be successful,” she said.
“You can be who you are and go for things and take calculated risks, making choices that benefit you and those around you even if there’s external noise. You don’t have to step on people to get ahead; you can bring them with you.”
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