In 2017 research by the Gambling Commission, it was found that 63% of all adults gambled in 2016. There isn't a huge gap between the sexes regarding gambling. About 66% of men and 59% of women in the UK gambled, according to the UKGC data.
Women and Gambling
However, there's a notable difference between men and women when it comes to the risk of gambling becoming an issue. The men from this research had a 7 ½ higher risk of gambling becoming a compromising habit that can disrupt their family relationships and affect their goals negatively.
Conversely, women seem to be more honest about their gambling habits. A recent gambling survey conducted by GoodLuckMate concluded that nearly two-thirds of women who gamble don't hide this hobby with their partner, compared to almost 54% of men.
But what do all these figures even mean when one tries to get the bigger picture? Who gambles more? Men or women, one may wonder. Well, let's try and analyze the data to provide some answers!
Gambling Practices Among Women
According to a 2013 study from the Journal of Gambling Studies, the gambling habits of men and women differ. Women have lower engagement and gambling-related issues than men. They also have a lower tendency to develop gambling problems. Only 2.9% of women developed them compared to 4.2% of men.
US women also report gambling less frequently and lower losses and wins. College women also engage in gambling less than men (84% and 91%, respectively). Of this youth, only 3% of the women gambled at a concerning level whereas, in men, the level was 14%. In the UK, the age group with the most gamblers was between 25 and 34, and 41.75% of them were women.
If we get back to the GoodLuckMate survey, it reveals some interesting trends among female gamblers, too. The favorite game of UK female gamblers is bingo, with 46.68% choosing it as their go-to category. As for frequency, women tend to gamble weekly (31.22%) or monthly (31.68%). The others have chosen daily, yearly, or less often than a year.
Gambling Practices Among Men
In the 2013 study, men had higher engagement and gambling-related problems than women. This happened in 4.2% of the participants. They also gamble more often, and so experience more significant losses and wins. College-aged men gambled more than their female peers, with a high 91%. Of these men, 14% gambled at a worrisome level.
The GoodLuckMate survey from 2021 found that the two favorite games of male gamblers in the UK are poker and sports betting. As for frequency, more than half of the male gamblers (55.36%) claimed to gamble weekly, which is much more than women. The second-best option (21.07%) was gambling monthly. So, it seems that men gamble more or, at least, more often.
Risk Factors Linked With the Difference in Gambling Involvement Between Men & Women
According to Dr. Robert Lefever, a world-leading addiction specialist, men's personality traits make them more susceptible to developing gambling issues. A 2013 study concluded that risk-taking and sensation-seeking lead to higher engagement with gambling. Other factors are impulsive coping and social anxiousness.
The men from the study sought sensation more than women. They also took more risks, although they showed less impulsive coping. These three aspects were linked to more gambling in the study. Lefever also notes that risky environments and the advertising of gambling alongside sports contribute to the problem.
Bottom Line
Although both men and women report gambling, this behavior is more likely to become problematic in men. Sensation-seeking and risk-taking impact this risk in men, but the environment and the advertisement of gambling too. Moreover, as most studies have shown, men tend to gamble more often, leading to spending more money on the activity.
Still, it's fair to mention that the number of women gambling has been growing. Especially now when they can do it from the comfort of their homes. So, getting informed on responsible gambling is a must for everyone who wants to try this hobby, regardless of their age or gender.