Poker News

Maria Ho has signed a pro deal with poker site UB.com.

The 27-year-old's first tournament for the site will be at the North American Poker Tour in Los Angeles later today.

The Taiwan-born star sparked controversy last month when she claimed women poker players are still 'scared' to play on the same table as men. 

But despite her experience of being bullied, she has signed up to play alongside some of the most aggressive players in the game, including the most hated man in poker - Phil Hellmuth.

She said: "I am honored to be joining the ranks of top UB pros such as Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke.

"With the new direction and vision I know UB has for their future, this is an extremely exciting time to become a part of such an amazing team."

Ho, who boasts career winnings of $360,000 herself, upset many players when she admitted she supports women who only want to enter ladies events.

She told Cardplayer: "There are still so many women that I talk to on a personal basis that are honestly intimidated to sit down and join a table full of men.

"There is still a lot of protocol that players are kind of expected to know from the beginning, such as how to bet, when to bet and what you can and cannot say.

"If a woman sits down and is immediately thrust into that atmosphere, she may not have a good experience and may never come back.

"That’s why ladies events are so important.

"There’s nothing wrong with providing women an arena to compete amongst themselves until they are comfortable enough to jump in with the rest of the poker community.”

Ho, who has both American and Chinese citizenship and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, has cashed nine times in the World Series of Poker and three times on the World Poker Tour.

She is also well known for her TV and media appearances and has appeared on Anderson Cooper 360, The Amazing Race and American Idol.