|
|
According to a recent study by the UK Gambling Commission, online gambling is becoming more popular among women. The research indicates that 42% of women in the UK participated in some form of gambling in the past four weeks. National lottery is the most popular form of betting for women, including scratch cards and bingo. However, there has been an increasing trend in online lottery betting recently, with female bettors, especially those over 35, starting to engage in other forms of online gambling.
Although the UK government points out that online gambling is becoming increasingly popular among women of all ages, the most active group is women aged 35 to 54, with 32% potentially participating in gambling. Additionally, from 2017 to 2021, the online gambling rate among this group increased by 8%. As for younger women, they are more likely to place private bets.
Gamble Aware's recent study even found that as many as 1 million UK women may be at risk of gambling harm, as the number of participants in online casinos and bingo sites increases during the winter months.
Gamble Aware also found that most women do not seek treatment, as two-fifths of them are reluctant to do so due to embarrassment and shame. Furthermore, online gambling increased by approximately 29% from December to March, which is why Gamble Aware believes that the risk intensifies during the winter.
Liz Karter, a UK gambling addiction expert, says that the signs of female gambling addiction are different from those of males. Karter explains that the hope of economic gain can prove to be a significant motivating factor.
When it comes to safer gambling, the UK government points out that the gambling risk among women is between 0.2% and 0.9%, while among men, it is 1.4%. In response to Gamble Aware's survey results, the UKGC stated that it would further study the impact of gambling on women's mental health and conduct regular surveys.
As for the games themselves, data released by YouGov in mid-2021 shows that 72% of women are likely to buy lottery tickets, while men are likely to buy 58% of lottery tickets. Women also prefer playing bingo or keno online (6% of women, 2% of men). In terms of sports betting, men outnumber women, as 45% of men are willing to bet on sports, compared to 23% of women.
Additionally, the data shows that as of 2021 (the time the study was completed), UK women gamblers are more likely to be primarily motivated by the fantasy of winning money (28% to 21%).
Finally, the UK government states that such data will help it understand the gambling behavior of population subgroups, including women. Ultimately, this will help it better regulate the industry. The Gambling Commission is no stranger to strict requirements. |
|
Post time 25-2-2024 14:30:11