Does Gender Affect One’s Propensity for Developing a Gambling Addiction?

Gambling is something everyone enjoys, but many avoid this pastime due to the financial and emotional stress it can potentially bring upon those who overindulge in it. Problem gambling is an addictive disorder that some people undoubtedly develop. It entails boasting an uncontrollable urge to bet on uncertain events despite an awareness of the side effects this may produce.

In the past, gambling used to get seen as a predominantly male activity. Yet now, things have changed thanks to the rise of online casinos. So, women are equally prone to get exposure to this hobby, which is accessible in most corners of the globe nowadays. And according to psychologists today, some individuals have a propensity to develop a behavioral addiction towards it that manifests similarly to the one seen in those who excessively use alcohol and drugs.

That raises the question – are both genders equally in danger of suffering from this disorder? Or are members of one more likely to fall prey to it due to their impulsive traits? That gets analyzed somewhat in-depth below.

How Gender Has Influenced Gambling Rates Traditionally

First, it must get said that for a long time, gambling was mainly something men would do in their off time. However, that had less to do with women not being interested in this hobby and more with the fact that men held all the disposable income and could visit gaming parlors.

Various studies show different female gambling participation rates in specific countries during different periods. According to these, concerning the frequency of engagement, man gamble twice as much as women. While women bet on sports and games of chance more than ever, they still have not managed to break the 2:1 barrier in virtually all regions.

A recent UK-based study returned data that says females aged 35-54 are most likely to gamble, and almost half of them that favor this activity engage in it at least once per month. That means that up to a million women in the UK are at risk of getting harmed by gambling.

Do Males & Females Have Different Motivations for Gambling?

Yes. Over thousands of years of evolution, men’s brains have gotten hardwired to be more likely to partake in risky behaviors. They are not as afraid of danger as women. That is why only 2.9% of women develop impulse control issues relating to gambling, compared to 4.2% of men. In general, men have a higher propensity to get addicted to almost anything than women. They also suffer more from mental illnesses. Add to this that studies show that men react more impulsive in the face of stress than women, are more hedonistic, and love sports more. It becomes clear why some members of this gender can get easily hooked on gambling. Men are also more industrious and entrepreneurially minded. That means they are more likely to seek ways to attain profits. Search for money-making opportunities.

Women, on the other hand, gamble chiefly to escape from everyday life. The adrenaline rush this pastime provides works well to eliminate worries and stress in the short term. For a portion, it is also a way to be sociable and enjoy time with friends. They rarely go into betting activities as means to profits. And because of this, they often gravitate toward more chance-based options where decision-making plays little to no relevance in round outcomes.

Do Women Have the Same Access to Treatment?

Even though the treatments for gambling-related problems for men and women are the same, usually involving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), these methods have gotten developed mainly with men in mind, targeting their main personality attributes. Still, these CBT techniques remain the gold standard in gambling disorder treatment, proven effective in the short and medium terms in dozens of analyzed cases of men and women with similar success rates.

Even though women are more prone to seeking help (32%) for problem gambling compared to men (13%), a potent stigma exists surrounding female gambling addiction that stops many females from seeking aid regarding this issue. Due to this, they are hesitant to attend predominately male-dominated Gamblers Anonymous, as they are not in a comfortable environment where they feel super vulnerable, packed with people they cannot connect with on an emotional level.

Who Uses Crypto Casinos More?

The global online gambling landscape has shifted dramatically in the past two years. Worries about swelling problem gambling rates have caused regulators to force operators to introduce new responsible betting measures that make the internet gaming experience less immersive. That diverted many gamblers’ attention to crypto casinos, gambling sites based out of countries like Curacao and Panama that accept players from over a hundred territories. Their appeal lies in that top Bitcoin casinos found on sites like cryptocasinos.net list attractive bonus offers, feature extensive game catalogs, and have no gameplay restrictions.

Since there is still loads of uncertainty concerning cryptocurrencies, it stands to reason that males consist much, if not all, of the user pools of most BTC casinos. As explained, males do not fear unpredictability as much as women. Some crypto casinos allow anonymous gambling, with no financial institutions getting access to who is betting how much on these websites, making them appear shady to the general masses when that is not the case. Famous Bitcoin casino sites have gotten regulatory approval to operate in this industry. And many unlicensed hubs have accepted crypto bets for years on a good-faith basis with their clientele. Though, because of their mysterious reputation, women often avoid using them.

Final Thought on Gender’s Impact on Gambling Habits

The ratio of male to female gamblers is modifying yearly, and in a decade or two, no one should get surprised if it comes close to leveling out. On account of the reasons mentioned above, doubts exist if the gambling participation rate can ever be 50/50, but it will definitely be near equal distribution in the years to come. So, programs aimed at helping problem gamblers should look to modernize their approaches so that these become more apt for females. Regardless of gamblers’ gender, playing responsible is a duty game of chance, and sports betting enthusiasts, have to themselves. No one should spend more than they can afford to lose, and chasing losses is always a bad idea.