Poker Ambassador Esther Taylor Says Women Have an Edge at the Table

In a poker world still heavily dominated by men, particularly in the intricate arena of mixed games, BetMGM Poker Ambassador Esther Taylor is leading a charge to change the landscape. Having recently signed on as an ambassador for BetMGM Poker, Taylor is not just advocating for increased female representation; she's actively cultivating it through her newly launched initiative, Her Edge Academy.

Taylor's mission became particularly poignant at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), where she was the sole female player in the prestigious $50,000 Poker Players Championship. This stark reality has fueled her determination to empower more women to enter and excel in mixed games, a segment of poker she believes is ripe for female dominance.

Her Edge Academy, unveiled last month, is a bespoke poker training program designed specifically for women. Its primary goal is to provide the foundational and advanced strategies necessary for women to not only compete but thrive in a male-dominated environment. To commemorate the academy's launch, Taylor generously awarded five seats to the $1,000 Ladies Championship, demonstrating her commitment to immediate impact.

With an impressive $3.3 million in live tournament earnings, Taylor brings a wealth of experience to her coaching endeavors. Her credentials include making history last year as only the second woman ever to final table the Poker Players Championship. This deep-seated passion for mentorship isn't new for Taylor, who has a history of coaching and guiding women and girls, from leading her daughter's softball team to assisting her high school alma mater.

"I have kind of always loved coaching," Taylor shared with _PokerNews_. "I knew eventually I wanted to do something as far as training and coaching specifically for women in poker." Her decision to focus on mixed games for Her Edge Academy was deliberate, recognizing a significant void in accessible training materials for women entering this complex format. "There's not too much (training material) to get women in at an entry level, especially with mixed games," she noted, highlighting the disparity.

With two decades of mixed-game expertise under her belt, Taylor firmly believes that women possess an inherent advantage at the poker table. This conviction is so central to her philosophy that it inspired the name of her academy. "You have an edge just by being a woman at the table in these male-dominated fields in a lot of ways," she asserts, challenging conventional wisdom.

The contest for the five Ladies Championship seats garnered 75 entries, with women from across the globe sharing their personal poker journeys. Taylor meticulously reviewed each submission, finding profound meaning in every story. "Each story meant something to me," she reflected. "It was very cool to read all of these stories from all over the world."

The deserving recipients of the seats were Maria Huete, Juli Keene, Nicole White, Candy Nhoybouakong, and Janine Gentry. Taylor's selection process prioritized giving opportunities to those who might not otherwise have had the chance to compete. "So I just tried to pick ladies that might not have the opportunity to play. And I think we got a good squad this year," she commented.

This year's Ladies Championship saw a record-breaking 1,475 players, a testament to the growing interest and participation of women in poker. Taylor is optimistic that this trend will continue its upward trajectory. "It absolutely would not surprise me if we got to 2,000 and we start seeing a quarter-million dollars to first and things like that," she predicted, envisioning a future where women's poker events command even greater prestige and prize pools. Her initiatives through Her Edge Academy are undoubtedly playing a pivotal role in shaping this exciting future for women in poker.