4 minute read
When you imagine the insides of a casino, you usually start by picturing a bunch of men sitting at the gambling tables but… where are the women? Oh, make no mistake, they might not yet be in your imagination, but they are at VIAGE! Indeed, even if the industry is dominated by men – from the players to the people working behind the scenes, our casino makes sure to welcome women in the same exact way as they do men. So, to celebrate International Women’s Day, we had to take a beat and honor the women who keep our industry evolving towards more gender equality.
Over the last couple of decades, women have seen their role shift in the casino industry. And even though most players are still men in most parts of the world, the men/women ratio is now evolving on behalf of the ladies. It looks like they’re finally getting ahead of the curve, ready to swipe the stake at the gambling table just as they are doing behind the scenes.
Completely immoral!
Women and games, quite the controversial duo! In the old days, if a woman was caught red-handed playing casino games, she was soon-to-be banished from her village. That did not prevent a good amount of ladies from standing their ground and shuffling cards. In the 18th century for instance, some women would gather in private entertainment houses to play “Faro”, a French card game. That owed some of those pioneers to make headlines in 1790, judged for their supposed immoral and irresponsible behaviour.
Madame Moustache
The breaking of that hellish cycle, we partly owe it to Eleanor Dumont, who made her game, hence her gender, very popular in the gambling world during the 19th century. This fearsome American croupier moves then to San Francisco, where she debuts as a card merchant at the Bella Union Hotel. At a time where women can’t play without being outlawed, “Madame Moustache”, as she’s called, will lead the way, leaving her unforgettable mark, also thanks to her unique looks. Later on, she founds her very own blackjack saloon in Nevada City, California, and manages to make it a gambling hotspot, despite her gender… We hear many men traveled across the country to get there and challenge this fearless opponent.
Number one
Today, it’s a player called Vanessa Selbst, who keeps our industry on its toes. Considered as the most decorated poker player in the world, she is the only woman to have reached 1st place at the “Global Poker Index”. She also won 3 bracelets at the “World Series of Poker” in 2008, 2012 and 2014. Her total gains amount to 12 millions dollars, which makes her rank in the top 100 global list of all-time gains.
What women like
Now, do women actually play differently from men? And the answer is: YES! Research shows that gender makes a significant difference in the way a gambling session unfolds. Men hit the casino to win, to show off to their friends or business partners, or to pay off some debts. The thrill is their main drive. Which is inevitably related to a great production of testosterone… As a result, lots of ego sits at the gambling table along with men, which leads them to rush their bets, and act under the influence of an irrational blur. Women, on the other hand, tend to keep their cool, which makes them more likely to leave the game with a good win. They’re more rational and mostly play for the love of the game. They also pay more attention to the overall atmosphere of the casino, to the quality of the service, on the floor as well as in the restaurants. All in all, they are definitely more sensitive to the full experience provided by the casino.
And ladies, that makes two of us! At VIAGE, everything is thought and organised to serve you a great evening of leisure and pleasure on a silver platter. So why don’t you drop by to conquer our playground with your friends on International Women’s Day on March 8? We will definitely be there to welcome and celebrate you!
