The Role of Women in iGaming

Article by : Matthew Gover Nov 6, 2023

• 
• 

In today’s world, online gaming has become a popular form of entertainment, appealing to all kinds of individuals. Numerous new businesses and even players–irrespective of color, age, economic background, and gender, are entering this dynamic industry. As a result, we see more and more females being rightfully represented in the iGaming industry.

There has been a push for increased inclusivity and diversity in iGaming, and many now recognize the importance of women in the industry. Here we will focus on the role of women in iGaming while highlighting some of the most influential women in the industry.

The Role of Women in Gambling

Women have been involved in gambling for a long time, but they have traditionally been considered a minority in this male-dominated industry. That said, this trend is changing quite rapidly, and women are now becoming more involved in the gambling industry than ever before.

Although history has seen many brave women make alterations in the gambling industry, the number of influential women in iGaming has steadily increased in the past years. Despite being male-dominated, some of the most prominent women in the iGaming industry run giant companies and have garnered influential positions.

However, for a bit of historical context, it was not always like this. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, women often worked as croupiers or dealers in casinos. They also worked as card dealers and slot machine attendants. Despite their roles, women still could not participate in certain games. They were also paid less compared to their male counterparts. It was during the second half of the 20th century that the involvement of women in gambling began to transform.

Moreover, as online gambling started gaining popularity, many women started playing prominently. Today, women represent a considerable portion of the gambling population, more so than in the past. It is worth mentioning that one of the notable changes brought on by online gambling is the disintegration of gender biases. In the digital arena, gamblers are valued based on their expertise and strategies, not gender. This has led to a fair and equal environment where skill is the main focus, and women can confidently participate without facing outdated stereotypes.

The Most Influential Women in iGaming

Despite numerous breakthroughs throughout history, the iGaming world still remains male-dominated. However, many brave women have broken through the glass ceiling and made a name for themselves in the industry. These women have gone on to accomplish great things and continuously inspire others to join the industry and challenge stereotypes. Below are a few of the most prominent women in iGaming:

Denise Coates

Denise Coates is a British billionaire who is the founder and co-CEO of Bet365, one of the most widely-known online gambling companies worldwide. Coates was born in 1967 in Stoke-on-Trent, England, and earned a degree in econometrics from the University of Sheffield.

After acquiring her degree, Coates worked in her family’s betting shop business named Provincial Racing. During that time, she developed a keen interest in online gambling. She went on to establish Bet365 in 2000, which has evolved into one of the biggest online gambling companies in the world.

As of 2021, Coates is estimated to have a net worth exceeding $12 billion, placing her among the wealthiest individuals in her country. Besides her business endeavors, Coates is also renowned for her charitable work, including the establishment of the Denise Coates Foundation. Coates donated £10 million to the Royal Stoke University Hospital to set up her foundation, which supports medical research and numerous other causes in the region.

Coates is celebrated for her achievements and contributions to society. She has received prestigious honors such as the Ernst & Young UK Entrepreneur of the Year award and the Order of the British Empire.

Charlotta Miliziano

UK-based Charlotte Miliziano began her career in 2017, working as a mathematician at Play’n GO. After her recruitment, Miliziano quickly rose through the ranks to earn the role of lead mathematician in just one year. In April 2021, she was promoted to Head of Games, having worked only four years for the company.

Miliziano’s main role is to work alongside other game developers to create math models for video slot games. Although she did not contribute to the early successes of Play’n GO, like Book of Dead, she has been actively involved in creating all the software developer’s games since 2021.

Owing to her extraordinary mathematical abilities and hard work, Miliziano has received nominations for numerous accolades within the iGaming Industry.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, who hails from Denmark, is also thoroughly recognized for her many achievements throughout her career. After earning her degree in economics at the University of Copenhagen, Nygaard-Andersen secured a position as chair for a Danish eSports team. She also served as COO for the Modern Times Group, an international media and entertainment company.

Nygaard-Andersen was appointed as the non-executive director of international gambling company Entain in 2019, and soon after, in 2020, she was made CEO as the company grew bigger.

Nygaard-Andersen was the first woman to earn a senior role in a gambling company publicly listed in the UK. She also received one of the largest salaries in the history of online gambling and worked tirelessly to prove her value as CEO. She even established a new partnership with top gambling companies such as MGM.

Staying updated with new trends in the online gambling space, Jette Nygaard-Anderen has directed Entain to focus on video slots and live casino games. They have set up numerous custom gaming studios and work alongside some of the largest US-based online casinos worldwide to provide them with cutting-edge gambling software.

Vanessa Selbst

Vanessa Selbst is an American professional poker player widely known as one of history’s most exceptional female players. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1984, Selbst obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale in 2012 before focusing on her poker career and gaining fame for her skills.

Selbst secured her first World Series of Poker bracelet in 2008. Selbst has won over $11 million in tournament rewards throughout her career, including two North American Poker titles and three WSOP bracelets. The idiosyncratic player is famous for her aggressive playing style as well as her ability to interpret her opponents’ moves. Selbst also promotes social justice and political causes through her platform.

Besides her success playing poker, Selbst has also pursued a law career, serving as a consultant for a legal firm. She has garnered recognition for her many contributions to the poker community, such as her induction into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2018.

She is often cited for inspiring women to take up online poker. Since stepping back from playing, Selbst has focused on entrepreneurship, launching several ventures.