Changing the game: Why more women than ever are thriving in live poker

July 25, 2025

News

by Jack Stanton

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4 Minute Read

Never has one player’s run in a poker tournament meant so much to so many. 

In July, Leo Margets ended a three-decade drought as the first woman to reach the final table of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event since hall-of-famer Barbara Enright in 1995. The Spaniard battled through 9,375 entries with the entire world watching, finished seventh, and left Las Vegas with a cool $1.5 million. 

She might also have sparked a new wave of women to take up live poker. While men still dominate live tournament fields, women are showing up in record numbers. And they’re thriving—not just with results, but also in confidence and community.

A growing number of women are soaking up strategy while finding strength and self-belief on and off the felt. In some ways, they’re re-shaping what it means to play the game.

THE SHIFT

Poker has long been seen as a man’s game. Ask someone off the street what comes to mind when they think of poker, and they’ll likely say men with cowboy hats, cigars and cigarettes, beers and whiskey and steely stares.

That would be an intimidating environment even for today’s sturdiest competitors, but it’s a long way from how the game looks in 2025. Men may still occupy most seats, but PokerStars has reported a striking rise in female participation at its events worldwide.

In the last two years alone, attendance at women-only live tournaments has increased by 49%, with some events posting triple-digit growth. At the 2024 Irish Open, women’s participation skyrocketed by 116% compared to 2023, then rose another 20% this year. The North American Poker Tour (NAPT) in Las Vegas saw a 94% increase, while European Poker Tour (EPT) events across Prague, Cyprus, and Barcelona enjoyed consistent double-digit gains.

But why is this happening now? The answer lies in the local card rooms, casinos, and social media communities. Women’s poker groups have exploded, offering study sessions and support networks in welcoming environments.

RAISING EACH OTHER

One such group is the ‘Ladies that poker at the Hippodrome’, led by PokerStars Ambassador for women in poker, Kerryjane Craigie.

“There are challenging moments at a poker table when someone in a minority, not just gender, feels uncomfortable. It’s time to make that a thing of the past,” she said. “I can testify that I have some attendees in our group who find playing against men daunting. We have collectively nurtured complete novices into the world of poker, and we’ve been there in support for each other like proud parents at their first major tournaments.”

Maria Lampropulos and Kerryjane Craigie at UKIPT Nottingham 2024

The next major tournament is the PokerStars Women’s Summer Festival, which takes place in London from August 12-17, 2025. If recent events are any indication, it’s going to be a fantastic turnout.

PLAY TO WIN, PLAY TO GROW

The Women’s Winter Festival shattered records in 2024, becoming the largest women’s poker event ever held outside Las Vegas (and the biggest in Europe to date). 

As for open/mixed events, female entries at EPT Prague 2024 rose 40% year-over-year, while EPT Monte Carlo entries grew nearly 19% this year.

The catalyst? Communities like ‘Ladies that poker at the Hippodrome’. Perennial performers like PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) and PartyPoker Millions champion Maria Lampropulos. And new inspiring stories like that of June Jenkins or Shiina Okamoto, who stunned the poker world by winning back-to-back WSOP Ladies Championships—a sensational feat. 

Just two years ago, Okamoto was a runner-up in the same event. Now, she’s a beacon for newcomers. She’ll be one of many big names attending the upcoming PokerStars Women’s Summer Festival in London. The week-long event offers mentorship, workshops, and pathways to tournaments through online qualifiers.

There’s no denying it. Poker isn’t just about getting reads, pulling off bluffs, and winning huge sums anymore. It’s an unconventional yet hugely effective confidence builder, helping us develop life skills that stretch far beyond the tables. It’s a workshop in resilience and decision-making, one which more women are gladly stepping into. Not just to win, but to grow.

FURTHER READING

Timeline: Women poker pioneers who changed the game forever

Kerryjane Craigie named Ambassador for Women in Poker

The Ladies at the Hippodrome who are bringing more women into poker