It is no secret that Kathy Liebert is a great poker player. She maintains a consistently impressive tournament record that spans more than 15 years, and her abilities at the tables are undisputed. Yet she remains one of the women in poker - the one with the best record, no less - without a sponsorship deal with a major online poker website.

Liebert is the top-ranked female player on all poker databases, and the Hendon Mob data shows her with $5,687,594 in lifetime tournament winnings, nearly $2 million more than second place ranked Annie Duke. But to look through her stats is even more amazing. The final tables listed began in 1994 with small Las Vegas and Los Angeles tournaments, and her first win was in September of that year. Throughout the last 16 years, she has accumulated 31 World Series of Poker cashes, seven of which were final tables, one being a WSOP bracelet win in the 2004 $1,500 Limit Hold’em Shootout. She also has 16 World Poker Tour cashes, seven of which were final table televised appearances. It is a truly impressive overall poker resume.sand

Again, it must be reiterated that she has no sponsorship. She has been offered one-time deals at final tables where she is paid to wear an online poker site’s logo for that particular appearance in front of television cameras, but she represents no site when she walks into a tournament room. And it’s not for lack of desiring such a sponsorship, as she has been somewhat vocal about her disappointment that she continues to be overlooked.

Most other players in the top 20 list of all-time female money winners do have paid sponsorships, but the surprising fact is that many who do not appear on that list also have deals with online poker sites. Players with one win, or even only one final table, are quickly offered long-term deals with monthly stipends, paid tournament entries, and payment for time logged on online poker tables.

The question is simple. Why?

The answer is also easy, though not something that anyone wants to hear. Cries of sexism are often met by puffed chests and scowls, as anything resembling discrimination in the poker world is not readily admitted or discussed. And in some cases rightly so, as the poker environment is one in which age nor physical ability nor gender matters if the person can afford to sit at the table. Money from all is welcome. In addition, most poker room managers and tournament directors will protect female players against sexist remarks or any type of harassment, and women are never turned away from games or tournaments because of their gender. Likewise, the reason that Liebert remains without sponsorship is not because she is a woman, but that doesn’t make the actual reason any less sexist.

Sex sells in any industry, and poker is no different. Liebert doesn’t dress to impress; she wears comfortable clothes (like most male players) at the tables. She doesn’t spend an hour on a hairstyle or perfect makeup, she doesn’t tote a designer purse, and she doesn’t plan an outfit around her cleavage. Because she doesn’t subscribe to the wishes of the male-dominated poker media but instead treats her poker career as the business that it is, she sports no logo on her purple sweatsuit.

On the other hand, there are numerous female poker pros who do what it takes to be noticed. Whether or not they make the final table or bust from the tournament in the first level, they’ve worn the clothes, high-heeled shoes, and flashy accessories that will ensure that they are noticed by the poker media, television camera operators, tournament photographers, and other players.

In many cases, these players do not have results that merit poker sponsorship, but ample coverage by the poker media means time in the spotlight and future advertisement opportunities for the online sites. The fact that many of them continue said sponsorships despite having only made one significant finish or final table in their careers thus far seems irrelevant to their deals, as long as they wear a patch on their designer clothing or skin-tight tank top.

Look carefully at the female poker players in any major tournament. Players like Liebert, Linda Johnson, Vanessa Selbst, Melissa Hayden, Jan Fisher, and Hall of Famer Barbra Enright have no sponsorships, while many others with far fewer accomplishments do. Those players will not be named here, as there is no need to single anyone out or create a rift. And names need not be given to make the point, as anyone who pays attention to poker players can easily spot those to which this opinion piece refers.

Sadly, there seems to be no movement to change the trend. No public outcry is heard on behalf of players who are denied sponsorship, as it does not seem to be considered an important issue. The women without sponsorships rarely speak out because to do so would open them up to mass criticism. And the male-run industry seems quite content to give publicity to women because they’re, well, pretty and charming.

As for Liebert, she will likely receive the endorsement she deserves when the industry realizes that she is a true asset, a well-spoken individual with long-term success and a complete dedication to the game she loves.