When the chips are down, becoming a workplace whizz is about more than just sharpening up your CV. 
Understanding other people’s emotions, making tough decisions and handling stress well are all valuable qualities in the business world. And it seems that being an ace at the card tables may just make you an asset at the boardroom table too. 
More than half (54%) of poker players agree that poker has helped them develop transferable skills they can use at work, according to new independent research commissioned by 888.

Card Sharp to Career Ace


Poker combines strategy, logic and patience – so could it be the key to helping you secure a new job, or taking that next step in your career? Perhaps it’s time to put on your poker face in the workplace…

Card Sharp to Career Ace – the top poker-business skills 

 


The top five transferable skills players believe they have developed through playing poker are:
•    Reading people (58%)
•    Decision making (57%)
•    Critical thinking (56%)
•    Dealing with pressure (56%)
•    Patience (54%)
Recognising ‘tells’ in your opponents and knowing when to hold them and when to fold them is highly relevant to reading colleagues and clients day-to-day. It could also potentially boost your decision-making skills as you weigh up your options before committing to a move.
According to the research, some key aspects of poker that can help you learn and hone transferable skills include:

The top poker-business skills


 
Patience is held to be the most important element of poker for learning transferable skills, while strategic thinking within the game also helped 42% of players surveyed. 
Bluffing and knowing when to fold are both seen to have their business benefits also, with 32% of players agreeing that the ability to outsmart others and judge when to back away are equally as important.

Bringing your a-game to the workplace

Bringing your a-game to the workplace


Overall, 51% of players said that playing poker has helped them progress in their career. There were a number of areas where players felt poker skills could be particularly beneficial in the workplace, including:
•    Negotiating pay rises (40% of players)
•    Having difficult conversations with clients (38%)
•    Explaining a concept or strategy (38%)
•    Speaking up in meetings (38%)
•    Interviewing for a new job (35%)
With two fifths of players believing that poker helps when asking for a raise, it might be time to take a chance and see if your company will raise their latest salary offer. Just make sure you know when to fold ‘em, and take what’s already on the table.


More than one third of players also believe poker skills can be useful for having difficult conversations with clients, speaking up in meetings or explaining a concept or strategy to someone new. So, building your patience and confidence at the card table might just help you in that boardroom pitch. 

The skills of the Irish 

 


The majority of players in every major region believe that poker has helped develop their workplace skills. Irish players however are especially confident in that connection, while Londoners and those in the North East are the next most likely to credit poker with giving them a helping hand. 

The Skills of the Irish

From Poker Pro to CEO?


More than half of poker players (52%) felt that participating in the game makes you a better leader or manager. Skills like patience and strategy play a vital role within business and employee management, so the poker table could be the perfect place to practice. 


In fact, 44% of players say they would be likely to recommend poker to people who are struggling to get ahead in the workplace.


poker and women leadership

 


Out of more than 100 million poker players in the world, less than 10% are women. But it seems that building confidence and developing transferable skills through playing poker might help women enhance their leadership skills and succeed in business. 


Perhaps most tellingly, a higher percentage of women (64%) than men (55%) believe poker has helped them develop their abilities to read people. Similarly, 62% of female poker players agreed that their decision making improved through playing the game, compared to 54% of men. 


Confidence is also a key skill women feel they’ve developed through poker – 54% of women agreed as opposed to 46% of men. 
Specific areas where women felt poker had helped them in business, relative to male respondents: 

 

  Female  Male
Negotiating pay rises 45% 37%
Difficult conversations with clients 39% 37%
Explaining a concept of strategy 39% 37%


 

In the workplace, 45% of women felt poker benefited their ability to negotiate pay rises, while 39% agreed it helped them have difficult conversation with clients. 
Indeed, a pilot program between Poker Power and the Kellogg School of Management uses poker as a tool for female leadership development, pointing to positive impact poker can have on business women working their way up through the ranks. 


Our stats suggest something similar, as almost half (48%) of players surveyed said poker should be used in business as a novel learning tool.

 

So, what is poker, and how do you play?


Given all of this, you might fancy trying your hand at a poker game – with a view to potentially building up your skills in the workplace. 
First, you’ll need to have a grasp on the fundamentals.
Poker is an umbrella term for card games where players place bets on who has the best hand. You can play it in person or online, depending on your preference and abilities. The most popular varieties of poker include:
•    Texas Hold’em
•    Omaha
•    Omaha Hi-Lo
•    Blast
•    Snap


Anyone can enjoy playing poker, but mastering it requires the ability to read opponents, bluff well, remain calm and predict odds. 
Online poker tutorials, YouTube videos and speaking to current players are all great starting points for playing poker, with online gaming platforms recommended by 30% of players. 
You can also pick up the basic poker rules using our helpful poker guide.

 

Enjoying poker safely and responsibly


Playing poker is a great way to have fun and develop different skills. But it’s important to recognise that poker is also a game of chance, with no guarantees on winning. You should always play within your limits and only bet what you can afford to lose if the game doesn’t go your way.
For more advice on gambling safely, read our guide to responsible gaming.

 

About our research

About our research


888 commissioned an independent survey of 500 UK adults who play poker either online or in person. Respondents were 38% female (192 respondents) and 62% male (308 respondents). Ages ranged from 18 to over-55. 
The breakdown of respondent ages was:
•    18-24 - 16% (81 respondents)
•    25-34 - 29% (146 respondents)
•    35-44 – 23% (117 respondents)
•    45-54 – 12% (61 respondents)
•    55 and over – 19% (95 respondents)


 

With over 10 million registered members worldwide, 888poker is the fastest growing online poker room, with a new player signing up every 12 seconds. 888 has been a forerunner in the online gaming industry and a pioneer of safe and responsible gaming since 1997. We are one of the biggest and most trusted brands in the world, providing one of the largest selections of games, high value tournaments and exciting live events for poker players around the globe.