The first historical accounts of people betting on chance games date back around 4,500 years. In most ancient civilizations, there are documented accounts of betting. As one of the earliest human activities, it has transcended ages and cultures to survive into the modern day. For most of this time, betting was seen as an activity that was unsuitable for women.
Even legalized games were open only to men, with women often playing games secretly for fear of being shunned by society or worse. Nowadays, when gender limitations are generally set aside, the betting world is predominantly populated by men. There are exceptions to this rule, with women excelling in many forms of betting.
A Potted History of Women and Betting
As far back as betting activities at ancient Rome, were allowed for women to partake, although only at specified times. Throughout history, betting has swayed between legal and illegal. In 18th Century England, aristocratic ladies liked to host Faro tables which ran late at night. Even when Faro was decreed, illegal aristocrats continued to play.
Only the ladies were targeted for playing, not because they broke the law but because they were women. At that time, it was considered unhealthy for women to wager. It was feared their actions would disrupt social order and political stability.
Although betting never went away, there were times when it became more popular. One such time was during the California gold rush in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gold miners were risk-takers, so it’s no surprise that there was a boom in games of chance. Eventually, betting spread throughout the state, and by 1850, licensed betting establishments were springing up, which meant money was flowing into the state’s coffers. The habit was carried across the bond back to the UK and it’s been a booming trade ever since. Nowadays, you can find the UK’s best places to bet by making a search for “UK best casino” online.
Although it was unusual to see women at the casino tables, it wasn’t illegal for them to partake in games.Today, women get to enjoy an extensive casino experience thanks to the abundance of terrific online platforms. There are even “feminine” casino operators that offer special promos just for the ladies, such as Lady Luck online casino.
Does Lady Luck Favor Female Players
These days, it is easy for women to participate in gaming in person and online casinos, providing players with a safe and secure environment. This shows how much female participation in iGaming as a leisure activity has grown recently. Even some casinos are named after women.
Lady Luck Casino is one such example. We are not saying that Lady Luck only smiles at women at this casino, because the promotions offered there cater to male and female players. If you think that lady charm will work in your favor, you can inform yourself of what’s on offer at Ladyluck Casino. Sometimes this operator has special promotions in various categories, like 50 and over, women’s day in the casino, etc.
888 Ladies Casino is women’s second-best choice. 888 Holdings launched 888 Ladies. This casino is designed and dedicated to women but also has sibling casinos such as 888 Casino, 888 Poker, and 888 Sport, where men can enjoy themselves. 888 Ladies offers more special bonuses, such as the Lady Luxe, welcome offer, Newbies Room, Free Sunday Offer, and many others.
Queenplay Casino was launched byAspire Global International Ltd. in collaboration with Mr. Play and Casino Luck in 2020. For female casino players looking for a casino with girly slots, Queenplay Casino is the best option. Although the operator offers a huge selection of games, this casino is primarily female-focused. There is a special welcome bonus for female players, and it is called a “welcome package fit for a queen.”
Women Who Pushed Boundaries in the iGaming World
While women are now welcomed at gaming establishments, as we’ve seen, this was only sometimes the case. During the Gold Rush, mostly single white men participated in gambling, although it was an integrated activity with women and other minority groups welcome to join. This era opened the door for female gamblers, some of whom became as infamous as their male counterparts. These women can be seen as trailblazers who began to shift the social dynamic of gambling, so let’s take a look at some in a bit more detail.
Roul-Lottie: Born in the mid-19th Century, Lottie Deno, aka Roul-Lottie, aka the Poker Queen, made a name for herself as one of the best players around. She learned much of her craft from her father and had a natural skill for poker. Roul-Lottie’s most notable conquest was over the infamous Doc Holliday, a renowned male poker player.
Madame Moustache: Eleanor DuMont had the curious title of Madame Moustache. Details about her early life are scarce, but she is credited with opening the blackjack game to female players. She once owned a couple of blackjack saloons but lost all her money when she fell in love with a con man. She sadly died from an overdose after losing a large sum of borrowed money and running out of luck.
Poker Alice: Born in England in 1851, Alice Ivers Duffield Tubbs Huevert spent much of her life in the US. She turned to dealing and playing poker after the death of her husband. Her popularity was such that she drew large crowds to her table and claimed to have amassed a huge fortune from the game. Her story has been immortalized in the film, with Elizabeth Taylor playing the part of Alice.
Mayme Stocker: While she was not a gambler herself, Mayme Stocker was the first woman to hold a gambling license. She secured this after settling in Las Vegas and, dissatisfied with the local entertainment, opening her club. She was granted the license in 1931 when Las Vegas was fully legalized. This was a tremendous achievement in a time when women rarely gambled in public, let alone operate a casino.
Shirley Branucci: Arriving in Las Vegas in the 1950s, Shirley became the first Las Vegas strip female baccarat dealer. This was in an era when women only traditionally dealt blackjack. During her long career, she rose to become the first baccarat manager at Stardust.
Claudine Williams: Claudine was already a famous gambler when she met her husband and moved to Las Vegas. Together they bought and operated the Silver Slipper Casino before selling it to Howard Hughes. They bought land across from Caesar’s Palace and opened the Holiday Casino. Following her husband’s death in 1977, Claudine took over the casino’s running and became the first female executive of a major casino. In 1992 she became the first woman to be inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame.
Cat Hulbert: Cat was a notorious card counter who toured the world and made a ton of money. She was arrested on more than one occasion and banned from many casinos. Despite this, she was a renowned seven-card stud player and is the only female cited as one of the top players in this game by Card Player Magazine.
Duchess of Poker: Annie Duke’s talent for poker was first spotted by her brother, who encouraged her to develop her skills. She was once the leading money winner in the World Series of Poker, winning a gold bracelet in 2004. In 2010 she won the Heads Up Poker Championship, the only female gambler to do so.
Vanessa Selbst: This woman is one of the richest and most well-known female poker players of all time. She has won an astonishing three bracelets in the World Series of Poker and is the only person to win the North American Poker Tour two years in a row. Her wins are prolific, and she is the only woman to attain the number 1 ranking in the Global Poker Index.
Annette Obrestad: Annette is the quintessential modern poker player, having kicked off her career in the online arena. She went on to make her fortune playing poker and became the youngest winner of the World Series of Poker Europe.
Conclusion
Throughout history, many societies have sought to impose restrictions on women. Through the perseverance and foresight of a few women, barriers have been broken down. This has allowed future generations of women more freedom regarding personal expression. As of now, gambling is still a male-dominated world. However, things are changing, and the advent of online casinos and mobile gaming has allowed women easier access to casino games. We wait to see what the future holds for women gamblers.
