Who Visits Online Casinos?: Modern Gambler's Portrait
So, who is the modern online casino player? Usually, it is a young man. However, in developed EU countries, iGaming fans have a higher income and education level and are rather industry-involved. Although men make up a larger percentage of players, there are many female ones, especially in Europe and North America. While it is true that the majority of online casino players are young men, there are more and more reasons to take into account the female audience. The Gamblorium team has researched the issue and is ready to share its findings with you.
Why Are Online Casinos Becoming More Popular?
There are several reasons for this! Firstly, it is great entertainment and a way to relax. Many players also enjoy spending time with friends. It is even more popular among social media users who turn to online casino games to win real money. Especially if they are attracted by bonuses and other offers. Most popular online casino like here offer quite loyal and profitable bonuses, which we also often discuss at Gamblorium.com. Besides, it is the possibility of hitting the jackpot. In African countries, such as Kenya and Nigeria, gambling is often perceived as a source of income or even as a way to get rich quickly.
Naturally, such different motivations influence the player's behavior. Those who play for fun or socializing will gamble once a week or a month, while those for whom it is a source of income will most likely play every day. As a top gambling expert, Nodar Giorgadze recommends setting limits on time or budget. Typically, those players who have limited the budget allocated for the game will stop when the budget runs out. But those who have set time limits turn off the blocking to continue to relax while playing.
Men Or Women?
Let's start with who the modern gambler is - a man or a woman? In 2023, the Victorian Foundation for Responsible Gambling studied the gambling behavior of women. According to the findings, female gamblers have increased. In the 90s, they were 9.7%, but now they are almost equal to men, as 49% of casino players are women. We cannot indicate this at the online casino tables, because most of them use non-gender-specific nicknames. Women prefer to play more complex games, such as table ones, while men are mainly motivated by the simplicity of slot machines.
When it comes to betting, female gamblers are more reasonable. They are less thrill-seeking and prefer to make lower bets to enjoy the game longer. Women are significantly less at risk of compulsive gambling. Another very interesting fact is that female gamblers are especially fond of smartphones. They spend about 40% more time in mobile casinos than men! So, women are full-fledged gamblers and almost as many as men. Online casinos have already adapted to this clientele and significantly increased the number of users.
How Old Are Online Casino Customers?
Most UK studies showed that 70% of online casino customers are aged 18-39, with 47% falling into the 20-29 age group. Young people play online casinos more than older generations. According to the Journal of Industrial and Intelligent Information, Chinese gamers are more likely to be male than female. In addition, just over 50% of gamers in China are under 35, 37% are 36 - 50, and 9% are 51 - 65. Their level of education is generally lower. If we talk about poor countries, for example, Africa, then there are almost 60,000,000 people aged 18-40 who bet on sports or play in casinos. So, if we talk about EU countries, then the age distribution here looks like this:
- 10% of players are 18-25.
- 70% of gamblers are 25-40.
- 20% of iGaming participants are 40+.
Many people 18 - 25 years old have not yet got a job to have enough free money for casino betting. Of course, people 25+ are often more successful, have a stable job and income, and therefore can afford to make real money casino deposits.
What About Education & Income?
The education and income levels of online gamblers vary. In African countries, such as Kenya, gamblers are almost less affluent and unemployed. In Canada, for example, the average gambler earns $70,000+ and usually has a college degree. In Australia, lower-income residents gamble more. Naturally, in countries where people are well-educated and have a stable income, gambling is conscious and well-developed. Moreover, there are several reasons why iGaming participation rates vary worldwide. In some countries, where gambling is not contrary to cultural values, the audience is large and solvent.
Europe, the largest market in the world, shows very high levels of gambling participation. Interestingly, of all countries, Sweden has the largest share of all gambling activity online - almost 60% of all bets occur online. With 34% of the total European market, the UK is one of the largest ones and features educated and informed players with a consistently high income. According to UKGC research reports, online engagement rates are growing every year.
Let’s Conclude!
We take the UK statistics as a basis - the UK market has been actively developing for decades and now meets all modern trends. The latest UKGC surveys showed that among 4,500 respondents, every second person tried to play online games. In Canada, this figure is even higher - 6 out of 10. Still, online games are preferred by young men. However, among land-based casinos, the percentage of women reaches that of men. Thus, the tendency for the number of women to increase among online casino players became quite obvious. Male gamblers often visit online clubs to get the win, which reduces the chance of the final payout. Women try to play for emotions and a pleasant pastime. Despite the increase in the female audience in online gambling, there are certain differences in the age of clients. The average age of users is approximately 30 - 32 years. The age of the female players is 28. Both sexes have common interests - roulette and cards. Slots are used mainly by the male audience.