Famous Woman Gamblers
Since the earliest days of the land-based casino, when male customers predominated, gambling is frequently perceived as a male hobby. However, since the advent of online gambling, women can bet whenever they want and from any location without feeling under pressure to fit in. Despite the stereotype that gamblers are men, there have been many successful female gamblers throughout history and the present. The fact that the online casino sector hasn’t concentrated on this and still directs its female-focused advertising and games toward bingo and online chat is therefore surprising.
Legendary Female Players
Many female business owners have made their fortunes in the newly developed casinos since the 1850s and the California Gold Rush.
These women, who came from varied places and backgrounds, were bold enough to travel to America in search of great possibilities. More importantly, though, they were successful in a field that was predominately dominated by men.
- One of the most well-known female gamblers of the American West was Lottie Deno, who was jokingly referred to as the Poker Queen. According to legend, she defeated Doc Holliday in a game of cards and took home the prize! She prospered in Texas as a professional gambler, where she lived to a ripe old age of 89.
- Fondly known as the First Lady of Gambling, Judy Bayley was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1915. Throughout her childhood, she was passionate with performance in general and dancing, but she changed her focus when she went to college. Before getting married to Warren Bayley in 1936, she majored in English and music at this university. Owner of a sizable chain of hotels with headquarters in California, Bayley’s company didn’t move its operations to Nevada until more than 20 years later.
The expansion and ultimate success of the Las Vegas Strip were influenced by the Bayleys’ building of the Hacienda Hotel Casino. Judy became the first woman to ever own and run a hotel-casino after Warren passed away in 1963. - Many people consider Vanessa Selbst to be the greatest female poker player that has ever lived. She made her professional debut at the 2006 Las Vegas World Series and has since amassed the most tournament earnings for a female player, with a total that exceeds a staggering $11 800,000. Selbst, who has three WSOP bracelets in her collection, has played at more than 25 different tournament tables, and she now holds the distinction for being the only woman to have ever been to the top of the Global Poker Index.
Female Gambler Pioneers
- Early in the 1850s, Eleanor Dumont, a.k.a. Madame Mustache, travelled to Nevada from France in search of riches. She started her own casino and worked as a Blackjack dealer. She was admitted to the Blackjack Hall of Fame in 2006.
- Another example of a successful lady in the gambling industry is Kitty LeRoy. She operated the Mint Gambling Saloon in Deadwood after fleeing Texas. She also had five marriages, possessed many weapons, including knives, and was always armed. That, however, is a tale for another time.
- Alice Ivers arrived in Virginia as a youngster having travelled from England. After relocating to South Dakota and became a Blackjack Dealer. Alice developed a deep interest in poker, which she learned from her late husband. It is said that she made $1,000 every night.
- Dona Maria Gertrudes Barcelo, a dealer in Monte, arrived from Mexico and started working in a casino in Santa Fe. Dona gained a lot of popularity because this game was well-liked by the Mexican residents. She rose to prominence as a gambler during her era thanks to her beauty, charisma, and skill at the tables. She was also the richest and most powerful woman in Santa Fe.
- One of the most successful young poker players in the world is Annette Obrestad. Annette, who was born in Norway in 1988, learned how to play cards from her father. As her passion in the game grew, she developed the nickname Annette 15, which she used to participate in and win free poker tournaments, by the time she was 15 years old.
Women have won tournaments in live events as well as online competitions since the 1850s. It’s past time for online casinos to acknowledge that their female clientele consists of more than simply Bingo players and that there are actual ladies out there who take casino gambling seriously and take winning even more seriously.
