Famous female gamblers in history
In all areas of life, women are on the rise, rolling up their sleeves, showing their skills, and this is also true for the online gaming market, where women now represent between 20 and 40% of casino players (the percentage varies depending on the country, in the UK it is as high as 41%, while in the US the average is just over 20%).
That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, female gamblers have become increasingly prominent, but women gamblers have not always received the recognition they are due as in other areas. So here is our tribute to the top 5 female gamblers, those women who know how to handle risk and take home million-dollar prizes! Check them out below.
Lotte Deno: The Poker Queen
Our first female player takes us back to the Old West, where men in bars dominated the game. This never stopped the bold and seductive Ms. Deno from hitting the tables to the point where she earned the title “Queen of Poker. But that wasn’t her only nickname, born under the name Christan, Carlotta J. Thompkins, Lotte opted for Deno after winning a hand so big that another player shouted that she should be called Lotta Dinero.
Possibly one of the most famous players of all time (she was immortalized in the American TV show Gunsmoke) in the harsh frontier lands of the Old West, this mysterious and skilled lady outlasted the likes of Doc Holiday and was able to retire on the funds she won in the game, living to an impressive 89 years old (the average life expectancy at that time was 52 for women in the US).
Judy Bayley: "The first lady of gambling"
Have you ever heard of the Hacienda? No, we are not talking about the Spanish tax authorities, but about the casino that Judy Bayley founded in Nevada. Originally opened with her husband, Warren Bayley, Judy became the sole owner and operator of Hacienda when her husband and partner passed away in 1964, giving her the title “The First Lady of Gambling.”
She relied entirely on her business savvy with no business background and quickly recognized the need for entertainment and advertising. Bringing both to the venue, she kept the Hacienda in the spotlight and in the public eye, making it a hugely successful business until its closing in 1996. In addition, she had a great passion for Keno. Unfortunately, Judy passed away in 1971, but she will forever remain the first lady of the game.
Have you ever heard of the Hacienda? No, we are not talking about the Spanish tax authorities, but about the casino that Judy Bayley founded in Nevada. Originally opened with her husband, Warren Bayley, Judy became the sole owner and operator of Hacienda when her husband and partner passed away in 1964, giving her the title “The First Lady of Gambling.”
She relied entirely on her business savvy with no business background and quickly recognized the need for entertainment and advertising. Bringing both to the venue, she kept the Hacienda in the spotlight and in the public eye, making it a hugely successful business until its closing in 1996. In addition, she had a great passion for Keno. Unfortunately, Judy passed away in 1971, but she will forever remain the first lady of the game.
Vanessa Selbst: 3x World Poker Series winner and the only player to reach #1 in the global poker rankings
Vanessa Selbst, one of poker’s most prominent players, is the only woman so far to have reached #1 in the Global Poker Index and to win the North American Poker Tournament for two consecutive years. In addition, she has won the World Poker Series three times (won only by two other players, both men) and retired from the game in 2018 at the age of 31, having amassed over $15 million playing live poker.
Annette Obrestad: "Annette 15 / The Huntress"
Annette Obrestad’s story is a bit delicate, as she started at the age of 15, playing free tournaments, and earned her first gambling bankroll this way, vehemently denying playing with real money. However, this does not mean that Obrestad deserves any less credit for her achievements, and she is certainly a top 5 bettor, leading the tables and winning many tournaments. She states that she plays some games blind to highlight the importance of noticing who you are playing against and your position, rather than the hand.
She is the youngest player ever to win a WSOP bracelet in 2007, and between the years of 2006 and 2007, she collected $500,000 via PokerStars, $200,000 via Ultimate Bet, and $136,000 on Full Tilt Poker. Also, in 2008 she won first place in the Stars Sunday Hundred Grand Tournament, competing against 20,000 players. Currently, she focuses on running a successful makeup channel on YouTube.
Liv Boeree: world's #1 poker player, known as "Iron Maiden"
The last player on our Top5 list is the current world number one poker player (2021), Liv Boeree, also known as “Iron Maiden” (a nickname obtained through her love of heavy metal music and gothic culture). She is the only female player to win both the World Poker Tour and the European Poker Tour, has a net worth of $4 million in tournament winnings, and officially represents PokerStars. However, her talents don’t stop there. She also has a degree in astrophysics, started a charity and hosts major gambling events all over the world.
Besides the 5 mentioned, there are many other successful female bettors such as Gladys Knights, Kathy Liebeths, Sarann Knight Preddys, and Dona Marias.