Gambling is a super popular activity in virtually every region on the globe. Many warn of the potential harm it can bring to those who overindulge in it. Yet, the reality is that only a small percentage of gamblers form a compulsion towards this pastime. Going by data from the National Center for Responsible Gambling, around 1% of the adult population in the US has a severe betting issue, with people in their twenties and thirties boasting a higher level of susceptibility to this impulse control disorder than those in their later forties and above.
However, until recently, few studies had gotten completed on the role gender plays in human beings developing an uncontrollable urge to keep wagering despite an awareness of the toll this hobby takes on their social life, mental health, and financial well-being. What follows is a short examination of what, if any function, a person’s gender has in their propensity to bet more than they should on sporting events and games of chance at online and crypto casinos or physical locales.
Traditional Perceptions Regarding Gender’s influence
For centuries, gambling has gotten thought of as a male-oriented activity. For one, for millennia, in most societies, men were the breadwinners, holding most of the family funds in their pockets. Hence, they were the ones that could do any gambling. Women, traditionally, took care of the home and children and had little to no access to disposable income. Furthermore, they did not fraternize at the same level as men.
That said, now, in today’s modern age, things stand a bit differently. Females comprise 49.58% of the planet’s population, and per figures from the National Council for Problem Gambling, around 33% of compulsive gamblers are women. The UK Gambling Commission states that their participation data shows that 42% of women gamble and those between the ages of thirty-five and fifty-four are most likely to do so (32%). Furthermore, the charity GambleAware, in January of 2022, proclaimed that up to one million female UK residents are in danger of experiencing harm stemming from gambling entertainment.
Do Male & Female Motivations Differ?
Most lay people believe that individuals partake in gambling to gain financial profits. While that may be accurate in many cases, it is not valid for all. A myriad of causes exists why someone would choose to bet their salary on events with uncertain outcomes. They may do so to fit in, to get a rush from this activity, to feel more self-confident, as a means for self-destruction, etc.
In general, men, as gender, have gotten hardwired through thousands of years of evolution to be more sizeable risk-takers than women. Not only that, but they have attached a sense of pride for engaging in such behavior. It is common for gamblers to brag about how much they have lost in short periods. Psychologists claim that three main factors determine the likelihood a person will bet more than what they can afford to lose. The first is genetics, the second is sociological, and the third is exposure to marketing materials. In context to the latter, men are way more into sports than women, so they are the primary targets of ads that promote BTC casinos and sportsbooks. The advertisements gaming/sportsbook operators create target their impulsive nature. Thus, they are more likely to react to it.
Women, on the other hand, chiefly bet as a form of escapism. They do so out of boredom, as a way to get a new thrill not found in their everyday lives. Interestingly, surveys also show that those in dysfunctional relationships are more prone to gambling as a means to self-medicate their minds, despite the devastating financial, psychological, and emotional effects that this compulsive conduct can cause.
One aspect of most females’ nature that is a deterrence to women forming a gambling addiction is that they react to stress much differently. When they experience it, they become more risk-avoidant. Conversely, men react the opposite. Under stress, they become more risk-seeking-oriented.
Barriers to Women Receiving Treatment
As a rule of thumb, men often don’t believe that they have a problem regarding controlling their impulses. Women tend to feel embarrassed about asking for mental health treatment for their gambling issues. It is also very likely that most females start betting at an older age, at a period in their lives when they feel neglected or lonely. They turn to this activity as a method to add some joy to their lives. Accordingly, they are already in a diminished emotional state. They don’t feel good about themselves and seeking assistance from others opens them up to experiencing shame and getting judged. To avoid this, many disregard looking for help and remain on their destructive paths.
In most cases, treatment for female gamblers revolves around making women feel at ease, that they are in a place of acceptance and empowerment that will assist them in making the behavioral changes needed. Popular treatment tools include cognitive and behavioral therapy, akin to the one used in twelve-step programs for alcoholics.
Who Is More Likely to Look for Bitcoin Casinos?
In the past few years, particularly post-2020, awareness regarding problem gambling has swelled. That has cast a spotlight on this issue and has made regulators obligate their operators to implement strict anti-gambling addiction measures. That has driven many gamblers to seek alternative ways to satisfy their betting cravings. Bitcoin casinos like those found on best-bitcoin-casinos.com have emerged as the premium choice for many who wish to test their good fortune on sites that provide less restrictive gaming entertainment and may offer gambling anonymity.
Due to the perception that crypto casinos are shady by nature, men’s risk-taking attribute makes them more likely to check them out and use these hubs. The same trend is present in cryptocurrency investing, where men are twice more likely to put money towards digital coins than women.
Without argument, in the past few years, massive strides have gotten made in the crypto casino sphere, with multiple famous platforms accepting virtual currencies now boasting reputable gaming licenses. They also have decided to feature many responsible betting measures found at top brand fiat sites. Hence, it is likely that soon women will become more susceptive to Bitcoin casinos, utilizing these platforms for bingo and other female-oriented games. Note that BTC casinos should never get used to circumvent activated self-exclusion bans or for any nefarious money laundering activities.
Final Thought
Men and women are two distinct types of creatures driven by specific motivations concerning doing various things in life, including gambling. Nonetheless, the traditional gender gap in betting activities is closing as games of chance, plus sports betting, become less taboo and accessible for all. Yes, each gender has its preferences, but it is now indisputable that both like to gamble nearly equally. So, regardless of if a person is a man or woman, or if he or she likes bingo or blackjack, it is vital that everyone wagers responsibly on their game of choice and never chases losses.
