The Austrian player Jonas Kronwitter overtook Sam Soverel in dramatic circumstances in the PGT PLO Series this weekend as the…
Read MoreAfter so many steps forward in the game, recent events have caused many observing poker to express dismay and disdain for the female poker community. Not due to any female poker professional themselves, but the actions of others around female poker events, a controversy on Hustler Casino Live and a very public criticism of a much-loved figure.
So where does the game go from here?
The growth of female poker has been sufficient in recent years that the poker industry in general has every right to be excited about it. Operators want more players, and the current field percentage of tournaments that is female sits at a frustratingly low 5%. The dial has moved in other ways in recent years, however. The prominence of Kristen Foxen, the WSOP Main Event finalist Leo Margets and award-winning content creators like Abby Merk and Caitlin Comeskey have given every one of a sane mind hope that females are on the rise in a game frustratingly dominated by men for many years.
Britney Jing’s Suspension from Hustler
After being taken over in part by GGPoker, a scandal-free period of time for Hustler Casino Live (HCL) came to an end this week in bizarre circumstances. HCL regular and cash game player Britney Jing, known on live-streams as ‘AllInBritney’, is being investigated by HCL and will take a break from appearing on live streams for the foreseeable future after being accused of collusion and cheating.
The pre-GG era of HCL was not without its moments of controversy. From the ‘jack-four’ hand between Garrett Adelstein and Robbi Jade Lew to former co-creator Nick Vertucci’s inglorious exit, HCL is known for high-profile virality on and off the felt. That all stopped after GGPoker took over, to be fair. The reputation of HCL returned to a peak high and Daniel Negreanu and Michael Mizrachi even took part on a stream in Canada.
That was until HCL player Chengsi Ye this week described Jing as owing her money as part of a staking deal from back in the summer. Yup, two ladies fighting and it’s not a good look. Posting a video entitled ‘She Ghosted Me After Owing Me Money’, Ye ssays she met Jing 18 months ago and the pair struck up a friendship whereupon Jing got Ye a seat in the HCL game. Now Ye has declared Jing as reneging on debts from another cash game and HCL have stepped in. Announcing that they are looking into Jing’s actions, their stance is a solid one. They will do a deep dive on the allegations and investigate fully. It’s just not a great look on Jing at present or Ye if the accusations come to nothing.
In the aftermath, fellow HCL player Peter Wang accused Jing of collusion in a hand, and Jing managed to get in once last session before her suspension…losing $162,295 on her last stream against players such as Mariano Grandoli and Ethan ‘Rampage’ Yau.
Hustler Casino Live posted this very sensible statement, too.
“We are aware of the various allegations concerning Britney and take them seriously. We are gathering information from the people involved and reviewing the relevant facts. We will not draw conclusions before that review is complete. Britney will take a break from appearing on Hustler Casino Live while we conduct the review. We will provide an update when we have more information to share.”
Condoms Up Top?
The Japan Open Poker Tour’s attempt to appeal to female players took a nosedive this week as it emerged that the tour are adding an unusual series of bonus prizes to the money on offer. I can’t really believe that I’m writing this, but the current winner of next week’s Ladies Championship in Tokyo will receive 150 condoms and a water-based lubricant as a prize.
Setting aside the obviously ridiculous nature of such a prize, the fact that the top three players are all set to receive condoms and lube in prizes in addition to monetary rewards is so prehistoric as to prove damning. The move has been criticized by anyone and everyone other than the sponsors Sagami, the Japanese condom manufacturer who are responsible for the prizes for the ¥30,000 ($190) buy-in Ladies Championship that at the time of going to press is still scheduled to take place this Monday, October 12.
“Sagami, which has continued to create products for women and loving couples, supports the journey and challenges of women players.” The compay said in a brief statement. Removing the description of the prizes and instead promising the award of “Sagami Product Gift Sets” does not cover up this faux pas.
The original added prizes for the tournament winner were 12 boxes of Sagami Original condoms (10 per box), 3 boxes of Sagami Original Large condoms (10 per box) and three whole bottles of water-based lubricating.
Not a slick move by anyone concerned.
Caitlin Comeskey Snaps After Years of Online Abuse
The prominent comedian and poker player Caitlin Comeskey is much loved by poker players and fans alike. So when she stepped into defend her fellow female player Abby Merk from tonnes of abuse online this week, one imagines that in a perfect world, people just listen to someone who knows.
Unfortunately, in 2026, and poker in particular, hope does not spring eternal.
No sooner had Comeskey defended her fellow Global Poker Award winner and content creator, let alone poker player, she was hit by a torrent of online abuse via the doomed social media platform X. After being called fat, Comeskey had listened to one too many insult after thousands and the straw had broken the camel’s back.
“I’m f**king done y’all. Being one of the most prominent women in poker in 2026 is f**king torture. You win. F**k y’all. I quit.” She said.
Defended by almost all of the poker players and fans who looked up her comment, social media warriors turned on the trolls. But it still left a nasty taste in the mouth for any fan of poker and comedy, in both of which Comeskey is proficient. Defending a fellow female player after her dispute with another female player is… somehow men’s business online? that doesn’t check out.
Whatever this week has been for the future of female poker, here’s hoping it isn’t a bookmark that lives any further into the story.
Did this article deal you a winning hand?