Women make up nearly half of gamblers today, but research shows that their motivations, preferences and problem gambling rates differ from men. Understanding these gender dynamics can help the gaming industry and the gaming platforms like HeySpin Casino evolve and families support their loved ones.
When She Gambles, It’s More Than Just Fun and Games
Several studies indicate women often begin gambling later in life and do so for reasons beyond entertainment. According to a 2021 report, only 34% of women view it as a fun leisure activity, compared to 54% of men. Instead, women frequently cite reasons like escaping boredom and loneliness (29%) or coping with anxiety (15%).
This pattern appears to translate to higher rates of problematic habits over time. One analysis of gambling studies found that women tend to progress from regular gambling to disordered gambling almost twice as quickly as men do. They also tend to start treatment programs at older ages than male gamblers, suggesting they struggle quietly for longer periods first.
Her Game of Choice: More Cards and Wheels, Fewer Sports Bets
While men gravitate toward sports betting, women prefer games of chance like slot machines, bingo and lottery scratch cards. These games feature fast action and require less knowledge to play. In one study of casino gamblers, 63% of women chose slots versus 37% of men.
Games with higher skill levels, like poker and sports betting, attract fewer women overall. When women do play these games, some research suggests they take fewer risks than men. For example, a 2021 study of online poker players found that women tend to make more conservative bets than their male opponents.
Nurture Over Nature: The Role of Gender Socialization
Clearly, biological differences like testosterone levels play some role in men and women’s differing gambling attitudes. However, socialization likely carries more weight in shaping both behaviors and preferences.
From a young age, boys face greater social acceptance and encouragement around competitive, strategic games that offer a rush. Parents are also more likely to teach financial literacy skills to sons than daughters, which can influence attitudes toward money-related activities like investing—and gambling.
As adults, women face mixed messages around gaming for leisure. Alternately viewed as innocuous entertainment or evidence of neglecting their duties, it’s no wonder women often feel pressure to keep gambling habits private. Stigma can prevent them from accessing help for problem gambling sooner.
Creating a Healthier Gambling Culture
While women now account for one-third of all disordered gamblers, few treatment programs address the unique factors driving this trend. Just as society has evolved to close gender gaps in business, sports and education access over the past 50 years, so too must we rethink cultural attitudes around gaming.
Destigmatizing responsible gambling as a leisure activity for both genders is one simple yet powerful step. Establishing more female-focused responsible gambling education and support services can also help at-risk women get assistance sooner.
Of course, the gaming industry plays a central role as well. Operators should train staff to watch for signs of problem gambling in all guests regardless of gender. Features promoting responsible gambling should have equal appeal to men and women, like setting optional loss and session limits. Marketing that avoids stereotypes and skewing too heavily toward male interests can also help shift outdated cultural views.
When it comes to supporting healthier gambling habits across genders, small changes add up to big impacts over time. The odds of success improve when we consider women’s unique perspectives and needs equally to men’s.
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