The Sunshine State is famous for many things, including its massive Hard Rock Native casinos run by the Seminole Tribe. It is a big poker hub as well, with high-profile card rooms in Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. And now, these venues, as well as online platforms and social gambling apps, are seeing higher levels of female activity than ever.
Florida, per PokerAtlas, has twenty-eight live card rooms that run several hundred tournaments annually, including special summer ones like those at the Dania Beach Casino and Harrah’s.
While this part of the US has not yet regulated online play, many residents freely explore offshore alternatives, boosting female poker play locally. Drawing on the inspiration of figures like Alice Ivers and Eleanor Dumont, who trailblazed the way for women in gambling, Florida has given birth to its range of domestic poker stars, led by Ebony Kenney, a Fort Myers-born pro who has accumulated more than $2.3 million in career earnings.
Below, we explain how and why we are seeing high women’s participation in poker in the third-most populous state in the nation. These women are discovering the fun that Internet card platforms supply, despite only around 5% of the world’s poker pool being female.
Accessibility Through Foreign Sites
Despite what some may think, online poker does not enjoy wide legal approval in the United States. Only eight states have allowed it, but only six of these have functional sites that their citizens can use. Thankfully, platforms based in other countries that accept US players exist, and these have made poker super accessible to Florida women.
Actual card rooms in Florida started to appear in the late 2000s and early 2010s following local law changes. The likelihood of online poker getting legalized anytime soon in Florida is not high on account of the tribal partnerships needed. That is what has set back sports betting from getting a foothold in this slice of the US, with the Hard Rock Betting App being the only one available. As likely most readers know, Hard Rock is a brand under which hundreds of hotels, casinos, and casual dining restaurants operate, with this franchise owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Thus, anyone who wants to play cards remotely within the state’s borders has to do it at offshore hubs, which is not necessarily a bad thing, given that these platforms operate from more laxly regulated regions whose licensors allow them to accept cryptos as payments, provide enticing bonuses, and perk-rich loyalty programs, accessible via any type of smartphone or tablet.
Women, who often juggle multiple work and home responsibilities, find it more convenient to play anytime, and the low to no barrier to entry, thanks to things like freeroll contests, have made foreign sites super appealing. These have served as training grounds for many of the state’s top pros.
Cultural Shifts in Redefining Poker’s Image
Historically, poker has always been a male-dominated pastime, and it still is one. For many, this imbalance is rooted in stereotypes that depict the game as gritty and dangerous. Yet, Florida’s vibrant culture has proven that poker is not what it was a century ago. Its rooms are welcoming to people of all demographics, and this level of accessibility has enabled women across various socioeconomic backgrounds in the state to feel freer to engage with poker from home. Local casinos running female-only events have done loads to help in this department, and so have live video feeds from female pros like the mentioned Ebony Kenney, who look to educate others on how to play.
The state’s tech-forward culture has aided with changing perceptions, as it ranks number four in US cell phone use. Accordingly, Florida’s high smartphone penetration means that pretty much all women living here can practice using fun-play apps and then move on to real-money sites without fear of being discriminated against for their gender or level of skill. Local events at the Seminole Hard Rocks for women, some tied to the World Poker Tour, have also done much to inspire online participation.
Online Poker as a Social Hub for Florida Women
Modern sites have various features that allow users to build connections with each other and enjoy a sense of camaraderie when they use the service. That usually happens with interactive features like live chat and community forums. Most poker brands, offshore ones in particular, too like to include official Discord servers and Telegram channels where their players can share strategies and celebrate wins. That creates a sense of belonging, which resonates with many residents of Florida, as they come from diverse backgrounds and may not feel as accepted in its city’s streets if they do not live or visit an area where their minority is dominant.
The social appeal is evident by the rise of female-focused poker communities on platforms like Facebook, where groups like Ladies Poker – Florida look to invite women to participate in local leagues, play in home games, and travel together to regional competitions.
Sweepstakes poker platforms such as Clubs Poker and Stake.US are also doing their part in familiarizing Floridians with card fun of the poker kind through virtual currency wagers. These sites have public and in-game chats that facilitate banter, adding an extra layer of entertainment to this activity.
