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Survey Says Most Women Learn Life Lessons in Poker

Written by Jennifer Newell
Last updated on
Jennifer Newell

Two of the biggest women’s organizations in poker collaborated to organize a survey aimed at women in poker. The Women’s Poker Association (WPA) and Poker Power (formerly Poker Powher) put the survey out and found 438 respondents.

The goal of the survey was to ask women about their poker experiences, since little data exists pertaining to women in poker. More than that, the WPA and Poker Power wanted to better focus their programs and resources through the results. They asked questions about the levels of poker experience and how long they’ve played the game. For the majority who are not poker pros, they asked about their professional backgrounds and how poker lessons have provided or grown various life skills.

Of course, like all things, some men decided to take the survey as well. In fact, out of 438 respondents, women comprised 74.5% of them and men took up 25.5% of the space.

Regardless, female respondents provided some revealing information that the WPA and Poker Power can use moving forward.

General Demographics

As mentioned, there were 438 participants in the survey, most of them women. The largest percentage fit into the age range of seniors, but most women were younger than 55.

18-24 years old = less than 1%

25-34 years old = 10%

35-44 years old = 23%

45-54 years old = 24.4%

55+ years old = 41.6%

The vast majority of those surveyed were not poker pros or involved in the poker industry.

Not a poker pro = 80.7%

Poker pro = 7.9%

Poker media = 3.5%

Poker operator = 2.6%

Poker advocate = 5.3%

In addition, most of the survey participants have been playing poker or involved in the industry somehow for at least a decade. Their introductions to poker appear to have happened around the time of the poker boom.

20+ years = 20.5%

10-20 years = 44.4%

5-10 years = 18.4%

1-5 years = 12.3%

Less than 1 year = 4.9%

While a percentage of those surveyed are poker pros or otherwise involved in the poker industry, the highest individual percentage of them are retired. The rest come from a wide variety of professions:

Retired = 15%

Poker industry = 14%

Software & technology = 9%

Medical & healthcare = 8%

Education = 6%

Finance = 6%

Entertainment & media = 5%

Insurance = 4%

Real estate = 4%

Law = 3%

Retail = 2%

Sports = 1%

Other = 23%

And in those jobs across the board, more women were managers (12%) than were poker pros or dealers (8%). Some were business owners (7%), engineers (5%), teachers (5%), real estate agents (4%), doctors or nurses (4%), directors (4%), and sales representatives (4%). Journalists, lawyers, and executive managers each comprised 3% of the group.

What Keeps Women Away from Poker?

There were some questions aimed at the few respondents that don’t play poker. Several said they don’t know how to play, others said they had no bankroll with which to play, and only one person said they had no interest in learning.

For those who have played since before the pandemic, the survey asked what deterred women from playing in live poker rooms. A significant percentage cited an unwelcoming environment. Presumably, that includes everything from regulars and staff not being friendlier to newcomers to harassment of some sort. There are quite a few other reasons, too, though.

Unwelcome environment = 27.5%

Intimidated = 15%

Time or schedule does not permit = 13.5%

Too far to travel for live poker = 12%

Don’t have any or the proper bankroll = 10.5%

Don’t like cigarette smoke in casinos = 7%

Insufficient poker room game options = 6%

Family obligations or lack of childcare = 4.5%

Safety and security concerns = 4%

Several of those factors fall on players themselves to remedy, but some can be addressed by poker room managers. The friendliness of a poker room is often a reflection of the staff and management, and the establishment is responsible for making players feel safe and secure inside and outside of the casino or cardroom. Smoking near the poker room is also something that the establishment can control.

Even with all of that said, almost every respondent (98%) said that they have had positive experiences playing poker.

What Brings Women to Poker?

Per the survey, the majority of women enjoy the competition of poker. Another large segment find it fun and a social activity.

Competition = 52%

Fun & social = 36%

Passion for poker = 7%

Make money = 5%

Bankroll management is a big part of playing poker for any length of time. Its importance also often translates into real-life experience. When asked if their experience with managing bankrolls in poker transferred over into the realm of personal finances or investments, the majority said yes. That was 58% who learned from their poker experiences and 42% saying no.

However, there are many more skills that women have incorporated into their lives away from the tables. Some (6%) even said that lessons learned in poker helped them better negotiate a promotion or purchase.

Patience = 30%

Math skills = 17%

Reading people = 16%

Making decisions = 15%

Confidence = 8%

Discipline = 6%

Being observant = 3.5%

Bankroll management = 3.25%

Other = 1.25%

Overall, most women felt that they have been able to incorporate poker skills into real-life work situations (74%). There were some that said no to the question (21%), but the remainder (5%) admitted to some translation of skills from the tables into real life.

What Would Bring More Women to Poker?

This is one of the most asked questions, especially to women in poker. While there are typically a wide range of answers, this survey grouped the answers into a clear list of suggestions:

Offer more ladies-only events and leagues = 33%

Offer more seminars and classes = 25%

Grow women’s poker support groups = 13.5%

Aim poker industry marketing toward women = 10.5%

Enforce no-tolerance bullying policy in poker rooms = 10.25%

Reduce buy-ins = 4.75%

Put more female poker pros in the spotlight = 3%

Ultimately, change will take time. For now, though, the WPA is publicizing a new Women’s Poker Playlist. It is a collection of resources for women in poker, from education to support and advocacy.

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