Breaking the Stereotype That iGaming Is a Place for Men

It’s quite common for people to assume that the world of iGaming is dominated by men. While that might have been the case in the past, things are definitely changing. There are lots of ways to see how it’s now a much more balanced space with a place for men and women.

It partly comes down to participants. Both men and women make up casino users. More than that, iGaming content is now taking into account different interests, with formats that suit a range of playing styles, including more games that appeal to the casual playing style often favoured by women. Last, but not least, the industry has more female faces in key roles.

Online Casino Interest

The iGaming industry is seeing a continued boom. Profits look promising, new casinos seem to pop up every month, and licensing and regulation are going from strength to strength. That’s a result of people all over the world being interested in gambling. 

Both men and women in numerous countries are searching to find the safest online casinos. The actual figures depend on the location, but surveys show that the share of participants is mostly balanced between the two genders. In the UK and in Australia, for example, the figures often come out at around 54% male players and 46% female.

Changing Landscape

There are numerous factors at play. Increased education and income levels play a key role in emerging markets, such as some African countries. In other places, technological advances in internet stability and device capabilities play a role. Mobile access has significantly changed the landscape and the way that people play.

However, it’s also the content and style of casino games that have led to a broader appeal. Slots, instant win and provably fair games, in particular, now have a wider range of themes and formats, which have drawn in new audiences.

A Female Audience

Every player has their own preferences, and we would never go so far as to say there are ‘women’s games’. However, it has to be said that certain themes, features and playing styles have a broader appeal to women. For example, mobile play and intuitive games often draw in female players.

Women are often more prevalent in casual gaming spaces. It’s not surprising, then, that an increase in casual gambling opportunities has seen a rise in female players. Women typically choose games that have elegance. That doesn’t mean they only care about them looking good; it’s about a sense of balance in the gameplay, which has to be smooth.

Decision-making and cognitive elements also appeal. We can see a rise in those kinds of titles by looking at the popularity of crash games and titles like Plinko. The player can make adjustments to the risk level and put in place several controls over their wagers.

Leading By Example

As with any sphere, female input often helps make the space more welcoming. BGaming is an interesting example. Four of the six major roles in the company are held by women. That includes CEO Marina Ostrovtsova, as well as CPO Julia Alekseeva, Chief Commercial Officer Volha Levshina and Chief Marketing Officer Katsiaryna Putseika. 

The award-winning iGaming software provider has seen a lot of success since Ostrovtsova took the reins in 2022. She has spoken about leading by example. Empowerment is a crucial concept to her, as it encourages a sense of ownership as well as accountability. More than 90 women fill the roles of the company, which has over 200 employees.

Honesty, creativity, matching her words and actions and autonomy are also important concepts to the BGaming CEO. She puts the current climate of the company down to being a space that encourages opportunities and removes barriers for anyone, male or female.

The Bigger Picture in Tech

Adopting these broader mindsets, having role models and addressing unconscious bias are all key steps for replicating this success throughout the tech industry. While some spaces have already transformed, others are still a work in progress. 

Promoting awareness of the current stereotypes and how that affects decision-making is crucial to wider acceptance and change. Having women in executive roles certainly has an important part to play.