Men and women enjoy a variety of online entertainment, including casino games. Globally, 1.6 billion people regularly unwind on digital platforms and land-based venues offering gambling, with 4.2 billion indulging occasionally. According to Statista, a digital statistics platform, the gambling market is worth £446.63 billion, with £77.69 billion coming from the online segment.
People have different reasons for playing casino games. For 35% of them, the experience itself is the main draw, 29% are motivated by the competitive spirit, and 18% see it as a relaxing hobby. But when it comes to gender, how many men and women actually unwind by playing roulette, poker, slots, blackjack, and other casino games online?
How Many Men and Women Play Online Casino Games?
Worldwide, men play more frequently than women, with a split of 64% to 36%. For instance, online casino bonuses catch the interest of 46% of male players and 42% of female players. Social media posts from online casinos are followed by 56% of women compared to 50% of men. In terms of daily engagement on casino sites, 26% of women participate, while this figure is 23% for men.
If you consider the new online casino UK has recently licensed or any other legal gambling platforms, the gender participation rate in gambling activities in the UK is as follows:
- 25% of the male population
- 17% of the female population
Every year, the involvement of both genders in gambling activities increases, averaging a growth of 2% annually.
UK casino players view different categories of games in various ways. For example, slots are often associated with fun and relaxation, while card and table games are seen as a mix of luck and risk-taking. Women typically choose games that offer a higher level of enjoyment and relaxation, while men prefer games with more risk and challenge.
When it comes to specific casino games, women have a clear preference for bingo. In this game, 70-80% of players aged 30 to 50 are women.
Why Is There a Clear Male Bias?
Men play online casinos and engage in gambling activities more actively, and let’s be honest, this has been known for a long time. However, not everyone understands the clear reasons behind this bias.
Risk-taking and Competitiveness
As mentioned earlier, men are naturally more inclined towards taking risks. However, this isn’t to say that women are not risk-takers. In fact, the evidence suggests that women are not risk averse but risk aware. As such, when women do take part in risky behaviour they tend to be more considered and prepared. As a result of those characteristics, female investors tend to be more successful than their male counterparts over the long term. It’s not clear if those differences are also evident in patient igaming pursuits.
Social and Family Acceptance
In many societies and families, it is more socially acceptable and easier to accept a male engaging in gambling activities than a woman. This does not mean that women are less responsible for their actions — quite the contrary in many cases! However, traditions are traditions, and they undoubtedly influence the gender statistics regarding casino game involvement.
Marketing and Advertising
Online casinos often target their marketing towards men, sometimes using themes or imagery that are stereotypically male-oriented, such as sports-related promotions or aggressive, competitive narratives.
Interest
And the simplest reason — interest. Women often find casino games not as appealing, much like they might feel about a football match between Chelsea and Manchester City. In fact, this comparison to sports fits well with the previous points about risk-taking and competitiveness.
Are There Any Trends Towards Changing This?
Looking at online casinos as they are now, it seems unlikely that there will be clear trends toward equalising the statistics of men’s and women’s involvement in gambling activities.
However, there are ways to encourage this balance. For example, online casinos could focus on games that statistics show women prefer, like bingo. Additionally, online casino operators could invest in targeted marketing aimed at women who are of legal age to gamble online.
Another question is, do online casinos really need to do this? It’s tough to say. Online casinos are big business. They closely study stats and know their customers inside out. If we start seeing changes in their ads, for example, then we can confidently say that they are aiming for some gender balance.