Top 10 Female Gamblers In History: A Quick Glimpse

Long time ago, gambling was viewed as a male-dominated world. Women were restricted to such spaces. But due to changing times and subversion of gender roles, casinos became welcoming towards women. Being a female gambler today is now less seen as a taboo. Yet the stereotypes and discrimination do exist. However, there have been women who have made it big in this male bastion. The article draws out the names of ten commendable women gamblers who have proved that gambling is no longer a man’s world.

• Annie Duke

Annie Durke, also nicknamed Annie, is a renowned poker player who originally belonged to New Hampshire. She was born in 1965 and from a very young age, displayed an affinity towards academics. This is why she chose to major in psychology at a reputed local college. It was here she discovered her latent talent towards poker and decided to nurture it to its full advantage. Initially, with zero interest in gambling, she participated and won numerous competitions and appeared in interviews and television shows. Interestingly, the love and talent for poker run in her family. Annie’s younger sibling, Howard Lederer, is also a skilled poker player and was one of her opponents at the famous 2006 WSOP tournament organised in Las Vegas. Earning eclectic achievements and accolades to her name, she has retired from the gaming scene but is invited to be a mentor for various poker tournaments held in Las Vegas. 

• Judy Bayley

Judy Bayley’s tryst with gambling has been a fascinating journey. Known as the First Lady of gambling, she is one of the most revered figures in the casino industry. Born in 1915 in Texas, Judy showed a passion for art, entertainment and culture which led her to major in music and literature from a reputed university. Just a few years after graduation, she got married to Warren Bayley in 1936 who at that time owned a chain of hotels in California. Judy played a significant role in running the business. After 21 years, the duo would establish a series of hotels in Las Vegas. One of their famous hotels, known as Hacienda, is located in Nevada and helped in popularising Las Vegas. After her husband’s death in 1963, Judy took control and ownership of the hotel-casinos and emerged as one of the successful and prolific businesswomen of all times. 

• Claudine Williams

It’s never too boring to learn about women making it big in the casino industry. One such woman was Claudine Williams. If you wondered how Las Vegas became popular for its gambling industry, then you should give credit to this woman. She has set the foundation for many famous casinos along the Las Vegas Strip along with Judy Bayley. Her contribution towards developing the casino industry was so immense that she earned a name in Nevada Gambling Hall of Fame. And guess what she is the only woman to gain this accolade. Adding more to the feather, she is also regarded as one of the youngest women to take charge of a gambling club at 21 years of age. Her story is indeed inspiring.

• Vanessa Selbst

Another jewel in the casino industry, Vanessa Selbst is considered to be a genius in the world of poker. She made her first appearance at the Las Vegas World Series in 2006. After that, there is no looking back as she participated and won several other competitions. In fact, she is one of those few female gamblers who has amassed the highest tournaments totalling up to more than 1.2 million dollars. She has also achieved a remarkable record of winning three WSOP bracelets, taking over 25 people in many tournaments. Within 36 years of age, she has ranked at the top of the Global Poker Index. She recently made her way to Nevada Gambling Hall of Fame. Quite an unstoppable force, she still continues to participate in numerous gambling competitions.

• Gladys Knight

Everyone knows Gladys Knight as a 7 times Grammy Award Winner but do you know she made quite a name for herself in the world of gambling. During her raging stardom as a singer, Knight visited casinos and played at the poker and baccarat tables. Even though she did not perform at professional tournaments, she loved visiting casinos in Vegas and California to sharpen her gambling skills. In her autobiography, she mentioned how she enjoyed her time playing card games and improving her skills at the casino tables.

• Shannon Elizabeth

Shannon Elizabeth is a popular American actress who has appeared in films like American Pie and Love Actually. Garnering success as an eminent actress, model, director and movie producer, she stepped into the traditional world of poker and made quite a stride as a player. Poker News reported that she made a total of 3 hundred thousand dollars out of the few games she played.

• Pamela Anderson

Who does not know Pamela Anderson? After a raging success in the modelling world and making a scintillating impression in the hit show Baywatch, she tried her hand at gambling. But unfortunately, luck did not favour her as she amassed a debt of more than 3 million dollars. The sources say that a gentleman had helped her in clearing off her debts. Both of them shared an intimate and happy relationship which Pamela would describe in her own words as romantic and happening.

• Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria is indeed a multi-faceted woman in Hollywood. After donning the cap of an actress, producer, activist and entrepreneur, the Golden Nominee star expressed her deep love for poker. She organised many gambling tournaments to raise funds for her foundation Eva Heroes Foundation. Many hot shots of Hollywood, entrepreneurs and activists participate in these tournaments to raise money for social causes. The money raised is distributed towards individuals with intellectual disabilities. 

• Anette Obrestad

Anette Obrestad is known as a successful Youtube makeup artist. But she also lives a dual life of a prominent poker player. She started playing poker at the age of fifteen at various online poker sites with the help of her parent’s credit cards. Soon after, she earned a total of $1 million as reward money. On her 19th birthday, she emerged as one of the winners at the World Series of Poker Europe.

• Kirsten Bicknell

Originally from Canada, Kristen participated in her first poker competition during the first year of university. Due to her participation in various competitions, she gained the nickname of ‘The Ultimate Grinder’. Till 2013, she earned a total of 7.5 million dollars. Soon, her nickname changed to Femme Fatale as she participated in competitions in the US, Europe and Australia. Till today, she has achieved a total of 5 million dollars, which makes her one of the top rich female poker players.