About 49.71% of the human population are females; however, only a fraction of this percentage have historically been involved in gambling. Things are taking a new turn with the availability of online betting in many regions. Over the last few years, the percentage of women in the gaming industry has increased to over 40%. The big question now is how to sustain this growth in participation and maximize the potential of females in iGaming. In this piece, we will highlight all the various factors that have historically limited female participation in gambling and discuss tips that will further change the narrative.
Factors that Limit Women’s Participation in Online Betting
Like men, women can enjoy the games and perks of casinos like VulkanVegas Casino, even if their general preferences are different. However, many factors have influenced how freely and efficiently females can participate in online betting.
These factors include:
- Societal Stigma: Have you ever met a professional female gamer? The chances that one could run into a female virtual gamer as opposed to a male online gamer is a ratio of 1 to 9. Statistics suggest that only 6% of female gamers actually identify themselves as gamers. The general perception is that online betting is a man’s world, and thus, females in iGaming are rarely regarded as professional players. If more females feel they may never be recognized as professional players or bettors, no matter how much work they put in, they would probably never bother in the first place.
- Misrepresentation and Lack of Representation: Female sports and protagonists are rarely featured on betting platforms. The games and sports are majorly tailored to male players. This explains why action-themed games and male sports teams are about 80% of betting options across platforms. Oftentimes, when females are presented in online games, they are hypersexualized and portrayed as weak, unintelligent, or even bimbos.
- Online Bullying and Harassment: Nearly 58% of women have experienced some form of online violence. Whether in gaming communities, meet and greets, or even chat sections, females are more likely to be disrespected, insulted, and even abused. In fact, over 35% of women in gaming virtual spaces have reported a form of disrespect.
Measures to Increase Women’s Participation in Online Betting
Having discussed the factors that affect women’s participation in online betting, let’s highlight measures to eliminate these challenges. These measures include:
- Designing Female-Friendly Games: Female gamers are not the same as male players because their preferences differ largely. While male players prefer games with competitive and destructive elements, females prefer elements of completion and fantasy. Hence, gaming platforms and providers should design more games around female-preferred content.
- Creating Competitions for Females: While representation is important in virtual gaming, a seeming suppression of a particular group may discourage other people in the same group from participating. However, if more females are allowed to compete against other females in female-inspired games, then others will be more eager to sign up and compete. Knowing that they share similar gaming preferences and will compete in the same games will encourage more females to participate in online betting.
- Strict Community Guidelines: Cyberbullying and all forms of harassment must never be allowed anywhere. Hence, gaming platforms have to pay even more attention, especially since females are an easy target. There should be strict guidelines that restrict vulgar or sensual communications or comments. In the case where these rules are breached, the offenders should be warned, restricted, banned, and appropriately removed from chat groups and communities.
- Support Open Dialogue: Platforms should encourage open dialogue about their gaming experiences. There should be group moderators and support services that are easily accessible, preferably via chat and phone calls. Support service staff should also be trained to immediately attend to issues of abuse and harassment. They should also be able to collect feedback from female players on their gaming preferences and the type of changes they may need on the gaming platform.
Building a Betting Market that Supports Women
Maximizing female participation in the betting market is not just a matter of equity but also an opportunity for growth.
By addressing the historical barriers that have limited women’s involvement in online gaming, we can create an environment that encourages and supports female bettors. Implementing female-friendly game designs, fostering competitions specifically for females, enforcing strict community guidelines against harassment, and promoting open dialogue are essential steps to cultivating a more inclusive gaming industry. It is also crucial to recognize that enhancing women’s participation not only benefits female players but also enriches the entire betting community. More female players equals more gaming activities and profits.
