For years, American poker has been a male-dominated space. Enter almost every poker room and statistics back up. Only about 5% of players are female. According to World Series of Poker (WSOP) data, out of the 8,569 participants in the main event in 2019, 350 were women, just 4.1%. Even more impressive, only 44 of them were under the age of 30. Nevertheless, the tide is slowly and steadily rotating. July 2025, Spanish Poker Pro Leonor “Leo” Margets became the first woman to reach the WSOP main event final table since the 1995 Barbara Enright, making headlines by finishing seventh in a record field of 9,735 players, winning a $1.5 million prize money, once again proving that women belong to the highest level of play.
But Margets’ Deeprun was more than just a personal milestone. It’s a signal to the wider world of poker. The game is shifting. Women are more visible, more vocal and winning. From Hollywood stars who double as skilled players to startups founded by women using poker as a tool for career advancement, the landscape has evolved. And finally, the poker industry is beginning to catch up.
A New Type of US Poker Room: Online and Off Inclusiveness
One of the clearest signs that poker is embracing a female audience comes from the digital world. US poker Platform Americas Cardroom plays a pivotal role in this transformation. The site has been actively working to create a more inclusive environment through both expression and philanthropy. In October 2024, Americas Cardroom held a charity poker tournament that raised $20,000 For the United Breast Cancer Foundation. Leading by ambassadors such as Katie Lindsay, Ebony Kenney and Svitlana Dryha, the event was streamed live, allowing players to share not only their strategy, but also the story of what it means to be a woman in the game.
But beyond charities, the American cardroom invests in fairness and security, with anti-cheat technology, advanced bot detection and certified random number generation to ensure an equal playing field. It’s not just good business. It is a sense of security for women who may be wary of entering a space traditionally dominated by men. The platform has become a welcoming hub for professional poker rookies and veterans by focusing on player happiness and expression. This commitment to community and ethics is in stark contrast to poker’s marketing history.
As stated in evilpoker has long leaned on gender ads, often introducing women as models and accessories rather than players. That alienation is costly. “When people talk about women in poker, they imagine all the attractive professionals in their 20s who saw their faces, and they don’t imagine a huge amount of middle-aged retired women playing to play.” Americas Cardroom’s strategy offers a new playbook. This is what we recognize the full range of female players and treat them as equals in the table.
Poker as a power skill: From felt to executive office
Beyond chips and cards, poker has proven to be an unexpected but powerful tool for women in the business world. Chicago Entrepreneurs Jenny Just, featured CBS News and timeleading the move to teach one million people how to play poker, not for high stakes tournaments, but for high stakes careers. Poker Power, a company founded by her women, believes that learning the game will equip women with the confidence, risk assessment and negotiation skills that are often needed for leadership roles.
Initiatives like Poker Power aim to fill that gap as women still hold only 28% of management positions in the US. The idea is simple but innovative. By reading your opponents, managing your resources, and learning how to make bold and calculated decisions under pressure, women can translate these skills directly into the meeting room. Poker is more about situations, interests, and self-control, not about cards.
This strategy has gained traction across university campuses, corporate retreats and digital classrooms. It redefines poker not only as a hobby or career path, but also as a life skill. Perhaps more importantly, it is to raise a new generation of women who don’t need permission to sit at any table, poker, or anything else.
From silver screens to card tables: Redefine femininity with poker
Hollywood has also played an incredible role in shaping perceptions of poker women. Movies like Molly’s GameBased on Molly Bloom’s real life story, audiences took a cinematic view of what it means for women to dominate in high stakes games and high-score ego worlds. But it’s not just fictional characters who pay attention to poker women.
Actress and longtime poker player Jennifer Tilly embodies the perfect hybrid of charm and grit. The tournament circuit regular, with a World Series poker bracelet in her name, challenges the outdated notion that poker is a game for men in hoodies. Her recent fashion moment for the real housewife of Beverly Hills Reunion, a liquid gold dress by Michael Schmidt Studios, turned her head at a star-studded event, but it was a bold statement that femininity and poker talent were not mutually exclusive. She’s not the only one. From the red carpet to the live stream, women own image, strategy and spotlight.
This visibility is important. In a world where poker has long been sold as a masculine pursuit, both fashionable and formidable people can help rewrite the story. Poker is no longer an exclusive boys club. It’s a game for those who want to learn, play and win.
Fill the gap and raise interests
Leo Margets’ historic WSOP final table run was a wake-up call. Despite being made up of just a small part of the poker-playing population, women are making it even more vocal and smarter. Thanks to the influence of platforms such as Americas Cardroom, power forward initiatives such as Jenny Just’s Poker Power, and pop culture icons like Jennifer Tilly, women are betting their claims in industries where they are finally ready to meet along the way. Poker is evolving, with games-loving women leading the price.
Source: Fashion Bomb Daily – fashionbombdaily.com
