Empowering Female Participation in Poker: Shattering Traditional Boundaries and Fueling Future Leadership
Empowering Women in Poker: The RAISE Women Initiative
The world of poker is seeing a significant shift, with initiatives like the RAISE Women community taking center stage. Founded by Janna Leach, a poker player who discovered the game during her university days, RAISE Women is a community-focused effort to empower women and underrepresented players in the poker industry.
Janna Leach's introduction to poker was accidental, but her dedication to the game and her desire to create a more inclusive environment have been anything but. Recognizing the importance of a supportive network beyond social interaction, RAISE Women works to break down cultural and structural barriers in poker, from casual home games to major poker festivals.
The initiative has made a substantial impact, creating safe spaces where women feel confident and supported, challenging poor behavior, celebrating women's achievements, and enhancing access to study and development resources. This, in turn, fosters skill growth and professional opportunities for women in the game.
One of the key challenges for women returning to poker, according to Janna Leach, is the time-intensive nature of study in the modern game. To address this, RAISE Women encourages members to study together, share strategy discussions, and support each other's growth.
Meanwhile, Amber Sullivan, the 2025 Goliath Ladies Champion, credits study groups for giving her the confidence to win the Goliath Ladies Event. Her route into poker was through pub games and the Redtooth Poker League.
Janna Leach, the founder of RAISE Women, aims to grow the network, have members travel and study together, and support each other's growth in poker. Her dedication to the cause has been rewarded, as she recently won a package for the PokerStars Women's Summer Festival online.
The PokerStars Women's Summer Festival is happening this week in London. The event, which aims to encourage female participation with aspirational live poker outcomes, is part of a broader movement in poker and related industries to elevate womenβs presence and recognition.
Notable figures in the poker world, such as Kerryjane Craigie, a PokerStars Ambassador and Director of Poker at the Hippodrome, are also contributing to this movement. Craigie's support and the success of women like Janna Leach and Amber Sullivan are helping to pave the way for greater diversity and opportunity in poker worldwide.
[1] RAISE Women Initiative: https://raisewomen.org/ [2] PokerStars Women's Summer Festival: https://www.pokerstarslive.com/events/womens-summer-festival/ [3] Hippodrome Casino: https://www.hippodromecasino.com/poker/
- The RAISE Women Initiative, led by poker player Janna Leach, doesn't just focus on social interaction, but works diligently to break down barriers in poker, including in casino-and-gambling settings, and provide resources to support women's growth, especially in casino-games like poker.
- Amber Sullivan, the 2025 Goliath Ladies Champion, emphasized the significant role of study groups in building her confidence and skill in poker, a path she began through pub games and the Redtooth Poker League.
- With women's poker events like the PokerStars Women's Summer Festival promoting female participation and offering aspirational outcomes, and industry leaders like Kerryjane Craigie supporting women's growth, the prospects for diversity and opportunity in poker are increasingly promising.
