Poker has long been seen as a man’s game. However, that viewpoint is old and rather outdated. The game has seen its fair share of female players over the years, with many being just as successful as their male counterparts, if not more so.
The emergence of online poker has undoubtedly played a role in getting more women into the game. It provides some with the ability to enjoy the game without the added attention that they might attract in person. At the same time, it also gives them the opportunity to play in a more relaxed setting and enjoy the game at their own pace and whenever it suits them with its convenience.
5 Influential Female Poker Players
However, live poker has changed in recent years and this has seen the emergence of more female players. Poker companies have recognized the change, but there is still much more to do if they want to completely revolutionize the game and make it more female-friendly.
There have been instances whereby companies have tried to show that they are looking to make the changes needed, with the inclusion of female ambassadors being one of the most notable.
Players such as Sofia Lovgren, Kara Scott, Alexandra Botez, Natalie Hof, and Vivian Saliba are all well-known on the circuit as they have managed to build and establish reputations for themselves in the professional game. Their successes have made them influential female figures for the sport, which has led to companies looking to try and capitalize upon in order to encourage more women to play at live events.
Sofia Lovgren
Having made a living playing cash games for a decade or so, Sofia Lovgren is one of the most influential female faces in the poker scene. She is dedicated to promoting the game to other women as a game of skill, which can help to make individuals feel more comfortable to attend events. She also believes that women need to share the wins that they make more often, as it could help to encourage more participation.
Kara Scott
Scott has made it her mission to be the best 888poker ambassador possible through her media work, as she wants to get more women to the table. She recognizes that the vast majority of females prefer to play poker online, but she wants to ask them why and find out what can be done. She believes once they have an actual understanding of why online is the preferred choice, they can then implement a plan to try and increase the number of women participating in live events and show men that they can play just as well (or better) than them.
Alexandra Botez
An American-Canadian chess player and YouTuber, Alexandra Botez is also an accomplished poker player. She made $456,900 on a poker live stream in May 2022 against professional players, and has an excellent relationship with those in the industry. Although she is not an official ambassador for 888poker, she has received sponsorship from the company as she continues to be a trailblazer for women who want to enter the game. She has helped to bring in new audiences, which could help to finally get more women involved.
Natalie Hof
Hof continues to work hard in her role as a poker ambassador, promoting the game’s reliance on skill and mental matter, rather than being a game that is for men and not women. She wants to show women that it is a game for equals and that it can provide a number of social benefits, as well as potentially lucrative ones, too.
Vivian Saliba
Saliba is also one of the exceptional women that continually plays poker and shows other women that anything is possible when they are prepared to take on the men. Like Hof, she continues to promote the game as one in which both sexes are equal, while acknowledging that she wants to be an inspirational figure and get more females involved in the sport. Saliba believes that the female-specific tournaments are the best way to get more women involved, but would still like to see more competing in the future.
