4 Reasons Why iGaming is Becoming More Popular Among Women
While men are generally bigger gamblers than women, there has been a notable increase in the number of women seeking out online casino gaming. Analysts have spent a long time breaking down the facts and stats, deciphering why this casino gaming trend is growing, particularly within the female population. While there’s no definitive reason behind it, we’ve picked out the four key reasons that have resulted in a growing number of women checking out casino games online since the beginning of the decade.
#1 A growing number of trusted resources
In the early days of iGaming, it was somewhat of a Wild West industry. It was so new that it did not have a set of rules and regulations, and the few experts in the sector did not have the credentials, simply because it was such a fresh way to play casino games. This was in the 1990s, when the Internet, on the whole, was the great unknown.Â
However, the modern market now contains a range of experts who have spent the last twenty years refining their skills and reviewing the quality of casinos. This is a game-changer for male and female bettors, as they can cut through the noise and find the sites that best suit their preferences. AskGamblers South Africa is an example of a localised resource where experts spend considerable time and effort signposting which sites offer the best in their specific field.Â
This includes fast payout casinos, several payment methods, and gaming options. Ultimately, the rise of trustworthy, balanced resources has helped legitimise the industry and has made gamblers feel more comfortable with the sites they visit, which is one of the key reasons iGaming is becoming more popular among women.Â
#2 Higher levels of accessibility
Despite the incredible technological advances in the early 2000s, there were still only two ways to access online casinos—via PC and laptop gaming. Sure, this resulted in incredible advances and made it more convenient than a traditional platform, but the recent rise of mobile gaming has meant that iPads and smartphones have now become the common ground on which iGaming companies are designing their games.Â
This has meant that women can play traditional games, such as slots and bingo, on their iPads or smartphones. Instead of loading a PC or laptop, they can play on the move, whether at home or on public transport. This trend has resulted in the market expanding, including male and female bettors.Â
Greater accessibility results in greater convenience, and as long as the quality of the product remains the same or continues to improve, it will result in a growing market among several demographics.Â
Social media has also played a significant role in this accessibility as more companies begin to use viral marketing trends on Instagram and TikTok to sell a whole range of new products. iGaming companies have picked up on this trend, getting their marketing ideas in front of more female bettors, and this added visibility is helping drive the surge of new customers we’ve seen, particularly since the beginning of this decade.Â
#3 Responsible gambling tools
Responsible gambling tools are another area that has helped the iGaming industry grow. More trusted resources are helping the industry gain visibility and legitimacy in the online casino world.Â
Many online casino sites now have to signpost their responsible gambling tools, and they often include a dedicated page. Depending on the country, responsible gambling tools are necessary for any brand. They help to protect problem gamblers and help their customers take measures to keep their own betting within a sensible framework.
Now the industry has transformed since its early days — when legislation and responsible gambling tools were just as new as the industry itself — women bettors can identify ways and means to keep their betting safe.Â
Some keep it measured by using time limits, only allowing themselves to bet within a specific period throughout the day. Others will use a monetary limit, so they cannot bet any more money on that day, and the casino company will implement that. Some female casino gamers will combine the two. Still, this emphasis on safety and a controlled way to play is another key reason the industry is seeing a surge in customer numbers.
#4 A broader range of themes
As the iGaming industry has grown considerably over the last 20 years, many developers and casino companies have tirelessly tapped into fresh gaming ideas. They’ve run the well dry when it comes to slot themes, and it’s hard to think of a theme they have not explored since the late 2000s.Â
Some of these themes have worked tremendously well, and other ideas have found themselves on the backbenches of history. However, from a user perspective, there is a much greater range of games to select from. This has resulted in a broader gaming library for gamblers and demographics.Â
Gambling games that traditionally appealed to women, such as bingo and specific slot themes, have been innovating over the last decade. As with any market, if the product is solid and the number of options continues to grow, this will result in a surge of new users across all demographics.
Conclusion
While iGaming has hit new heights almost every year since the early 2010s, in truth, it’s been because of a collective push from the industry. Of course, women take up a considerable chunk of the market. Still, the whole iGaming industry has collectively moved to a model whereby it attracts as many new customers as possible, regardless of gender.Â
Yes, while some games appeal more specifically to female bettors, the market is broad and has enough variety for them to explore its full scope. For instance, poker is traditionally more of a male-dominated game, but some of the top poker players in the world are women.Â
Games like bingo have seen a rise in the number of male players, despite historically being more popular with women. It depends on the individual. Although many of the factors we have touched on today have addressed the specific impact on women, you could also apply all of them to the broader market.Â
