Chicks with decks: the female lived experience in poker

Abstract

Though poker does not inherently discriminate between men and women, the proportion of men in the game is much higher than that of women. The authors describe the female lived experience in poker, including interactional barriers to participation from the moment they step foot in the door, to individual decisions at the table, and through to the time they depart. In-depth qualitative interviews with 13 recreational and professional poker players are used to explore these issues. Strategies women use to overcome the potentially uncomfortable and intimidating environment to persist in poker play are also explored, such as community-building through women-only poker games and adapting to and forming aggressive play strategies. It is suggested that poker be distinguished as a unique example of gender differences in gambling, a complex group interaction that goes beyond the current theory on gendered gambling preferences.

Chasing losses in online poker and casino games: Characteristics and game play of Internet gamblers at risk of disordered gambling

“…However, recent reports suggest that an increasing number of women are seeking help for gambling problems, including Internet gambling (GamCare, 2010;Holdsworth et al, 2012). There is some evidence that women are gambling online as this is perceived to be a safe, non-intimidating environment and gambling sites are directly targeting women, which may lead to further increases in disordered gambling among this cohort (Abarbanel and Bernhard, 2012;Corney and Davis, 2010). It is important for future research to include sufficient numbers of women to investigate Internet gambling as well as a measure of gambling problems to determine levels of harm among this population.…”

"To Bluff like a Man or Fold like a Girl?" – Gender Biased Deceptive Behavior in Online Poker

“…Poker is also a competitive, male-dominated game surrounded by strong gender stereotypes [ 32 ], and thus offers an excellent platform to study the social aspects of strategic deception. Male poker players often view female opponents as novices who are unwilling to take risks and easily intimidated [ 33 ].…”

The impact of internet gambling on gambling problems: A comparison of moderate-risk and problem Internet and non-Internet gamblers.

“…These findings suggest that Internet gambling is used when other venues are inaccessible, or because less time and effort are required. Privacy of online play is considered beneficial by many players, particularly women who may experience discomfort and social pressure in land-based venues (Abarbanel & Bernhard, 2012;Corney & Davis, 2010). Moreover, Internet gambling enables greater flexibility for experimentation with small bets.…”