Women have risen to the top of the ladder in the gambling industry for centuries. Some excelled in poker games, and some were more versatile, with excellent betting skills at several games. These women’s incredible wins in cash prizes and tournaments have proven that gambling isn’t a game made for the gents alone. Even with the advent of new-generation casino gambling and online platforms like GGbet slots, these events are still a source of inspiration for other female players looking to climb the peak of achievement in the industry. We’ve curated a list of the top 8 women who have made notable advancements. Walk with us as we get into it.
Annie Duke
Annie, also known as “Anne” Duke, was born in 1965 in New Hampshire. She is a renowned poker player with multiple tournament victories. She rose high enough in her fame to be featured in television appearances. She picked up her interest in gambling at a young age, in her mid-20s, after discovering her talent for playing. Her total live earnings are $4,270,546 million, and she contested in tournaments like:
- The 2010 World Series of Poker;
- The 2010 NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship;
- The 2007 and 2009 World Series of Poker;
- The 2007 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE and many others.
Lottie Deno
Here is another gambling queen with outstanding winnings and achievements. She is regarded as the legendary Poker Queen. One of her most notable feats was winning a match against Doc Holliday, one of history’s most famous male gamblers. She won $3,000 with just this game. Lottie traveled across countries, leaving behind several trails of massive wins and successes.
Jennifer Harman
Jennifer Harman has a reputation for being one of the most daring female gamblers of all time. She is known for playing high-stakes games and winning high cash prizes globally. She plays the games professionally and skillfully and also contributes to society through charity and publications related to the betting scene. As of 2021, her total winnings exceeded $2.7 million, most of which came from tournaments like the WSOP (World Series of Poker) games.
Claudine Williams
Claudine Williams is another first of many in the industry. She became the first young lady to own a gambling club in Texas at the young age of 21. She was born in 1921 and entered Nevada’s Gambling Hall of Fame. She also gained popularity in the betting scene for her immense contributions to its development.
Annette Obrestad
Annette is one of the youngest achievers in the betting industry. She is a Norwegian player born in 1988 and became the youngest female to win a bracelet at the 2007 World Series of Poker Tournament in Europe. She stumbled into the industry at the age of 15 and currently has accumulated winnings of over $4 million. In December 2008, she also took the first position in the Ultimate Bet $100,000 GTD tournament. She’s one of the youngest high achievers in the industry, and several female players look up to her.
Poker Alice
Poker Alice is an American gambler born in 1852. She ventured into these games as an adult and spent most of her life playing this game. Gambling was her source of livelihood, and she made a hefty sum, which she survived on throughout her lifetime.
Katy Lederer
Katy Lederer is another famous ca card games player and a high achiever in the gambling scene. She also wrote a famous book titled “A Girlhood Among Gamblers.” The book covered stories about her time in the industry and her adventures as a professional player. She also has family members who were accomplices in this journey, one of whom is her brother Howard Lederer, an American professional gambler. It’s fair to say betting is a family thing for the Lederer, which is evident with their successes and wins in the casino scene.
Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst didn’t start as a poker player like the others discussed in this article. She started as a gambler from the United States while still studying at Yale Law School. Vanessa later picked up an interest in gambling, becoming one of the very best. She won the No-Limit Hold ’em main event tour in 2010, the $25,000 No-Limit Hold ’em Mix Max, and the #100k No-Limit Hold ’em Eight Max in 2014, amongst many others.
Women in the History of Gambling
The women we’ve listed above are revolutionaries with countless successes that have been inspirational to younger generations. What’s more impressive is that their achievements are not limited to the fun of playing poker games. We have famous, successful females like Judy Bayley, the first woman to own and operate a Hotel Casino. The list goes on, and it is truly a motivation to reflect on the countless positive influences they’ve left on their trail.
