World Series of Poker babe Erica Schoenberg talks with Jenny Woo

Gambling911.com's own Jenny Woo had a chance to interview Ms. Erica Schoenberg representing Mansion (See Web Site Here)

In fact, Ms. Schoenberg will be one of the most important "face" of Mansion Poker and is certain to help catapult this fine company to the next level.

You may even get a chance to play with Ms. Schoenberg.  Mansion (See Web Site Here) for the very best bonuses available 

Jenny:  You got started fairly young playing poker and getting involved in the professional poker circuit.  How did it all begin?

Erica:  Growing up in a gambling family it just is what we did in our spare time.  We'd play cards.  We'd gamble on just about anything.  We lived in a really small town with only three television stations so I ended up going to the race track with my dad to try to harness my affinity for numbers and cards and things like that.  We would gamble on just about anything.  Flip a coin and gamble.

Jenny:  Why gee Girl I hope our good Arizona Senator anti-online gambling lobbyist Jon Kyl is not reading this (ahem).  Okay, so people label you as the "poker babe".  How do you feel about that?

Erica:  I've come to grips with it because I prefer that people at the table think I am just another pretty face at the poker table and that I am not really a threat. 

Jenny:  I have the same problem.  But do you think that is your little "edge"?

Erica:  It's a small, small edge but I think that every little thing helps. 

Jenny: How often do you play?  Do you gather your family, friends around whenever you have a chance and play the game?

Erica:  Don't get me wrong, I love the game, but when I have spare time (because I am playing so much) I am not playing (poker).  I try to take it as a regular job.  It gets tiring so you have to take a few days off to get out of the casinos, but usually I play 5 days a week, sometimes 6 and when things are really crazy right now (with the World Series of Poker), 7 days a week. 

Jenny: Who do you look up to in terms of professional poker players?  And who would you most likely to go face to face with?

Erica:  Well obviously my boyfriend, David Benyamine.  I look up to him the most.  His game is just amazing.  As far as going head-to-head, we just got seated at the same table during one of the World Series of Poker events just the other day.  It was the second time this ever happened.  The first time I wasn't very secure with my game and him watching me play.  It made me nervous.  But the other day was just amazing and I enjoyed having him at my table.  I enjoyed watching him play plus I know a little about how he plays so it gave me a little bit of an edge.  And we can talk about it later.  He not only criticizes but also praises (me) as well. 

About David Benyamine:

David is a Paris-based poker pro who hails from the south of France. In Season Two of the World Poker Tour the young poker star went head-to-head with top Americans and Europeans at the Aviation Club de France and lived to tell the tale, taking home the first place win and $410,886. He also claimed a first in the 2000 Euro Finals of Poker Pot Limit Hold-em,/Omaha Championship, second in the 2002 Euro Finals of Poker Pot Limit and first in the 2002 Euro Finals No Limit Hold-em.

David started playing poker at the age of 12. It was the Aviation Club de France, a place where David was introduced to poker by a friend who was employed there, where he really got introduced to the game. Working his way up from low limit games, David developed into an accomplished and formidable player, soon scoring in top international events. David was also a very successful billiards player and even a former tennis star who quit due to back problems. David candidly credits a relentless desire for improvement as one of his most important assets: "It's a lot about knowing yourself. I think I don't know myself enough right now."

Jenny: What are your feelings on the (U.S.) government trying to end online poker?

Erica:  I pretty much feel the same way as most other poker players.  It's a joke!  At this point in time our government needs so much money and we have so many things that can help it.  There are just better ways to go about it. 

Jenny: Tell us about Mansion Poker and how you got involved with this fine group.

About Mansion Poker (See Website Here):

Mansion Poker is committed to excellence in the world of online poker and now Vegas poker as well.  The company has invested millions in its Mansion Poker Dome in downtown Las Vegas (see picture).

Want to play poker online?  How about top bonuses and great chances to win online tournaments? 

Mansion Poker is offering a 100% signup bonus UP TO $1000 on your initial deposit.  WOW!

Free-rolls are tournaments where the prize pool has been entirely funded by Mansion Poker. They cost nothing to enter, but still have prizes for the top finishers. They are a good place for beginners to pick up experience of cash gaming without having to risk their own money. Play in these games is generally less reckless than in FUN money tournaments because even though you can't lose money, there are cash prizes for the top players.

Mansion Poker  offer free-roll tournaments every day, offering at least USD 10,000 in free prizes every weekend.

An Added Value tournament is another kind of tournament where the prizes are funded by Mansion Poker . As with a normal tournament, players buy in to the tournament and those buy-ins are pooled together to fund the prizes. The more players, the bigger the prizes. To make sure that the game is always interesting, Mansion Poker will "Add-on" a set amount of money to the prize pool, no matter how many people have entered.

Erica: I had flown into Vegas from LA to play in this charity poker tournament.  To make a long story short I fly back to LA, end up at this party and met the Mansion people and we just hit it off.  They were looking for someone like myself.  I wasn't really well know.  I wasn't recognizable but I was really working hard (like) my poker career and put it out there.  So that is kinda how the union started and it's been amazing.  Obviously they've afforded me the opportunity to enter all these huge buy-in tournaments.  They've really opened up the world for me.  Before I would have had to qualify (for these tournaments) in other ways.  I didn't have an extra $10,000 laying around.

Jenny: Don't we all wish we had that....Where's my dear editor? 

Erica:  They are just an amazing brand and company and I think they are going to change the way that poker is viewed. 

Jenny:  I think they are happy to have you as well, with such a pretty face and the skills to back it up as well. 

Learn More About Mansion Here

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Jenny Woo, www.gambling911.com

Originally published August 2, 2006 11:10 pm EDT