Women and Gambling: Female Betting Stats & Addiction Rates
Clinical Review by:
Published:
Sep 18, 2024
,
12:25 p.m.
ET
The number of women suffering from gambling addiction has been on the rise. Women are starting to bet more frequently and are engaging in gambling at a younger age than ever before. Sportsbooks and betting apps are capitalizing on the rise of women's sports and targeting females specifically to entice them to gamble.
The consequences of gambling addiction in women are quickly becoming apparent as treatment for mental, emotional and financial health are being seen. In order to help reduce gambling harms in females, there needs to be more research, better identifiers, support and resources for women at risk for gambling addiction.
How many women in the U.S. gamble? Bet on sports?
According to the National Library of Medicine, 36% of American women engage in some type of gambling. In comparison to 20% of men, 7.8% of American women meet the criteria for problem gambling. A research team from St. Bonaventure conducted a study that revealed 20% of women aged 18-49 have an online account with a sports betting service. In fact, 4.6 million U.S women joined sportsbook betting apps in 2021, which was a 115% increase from 2020.
It should be mentioned that this data may come with a grain of salt. As often pointed out when sportsbooks’ data shows increases in female accounts created, there is a possibility that some of those may actually be men. Popular sportsbooks have been known to entice new sign-ups with attractive promotions, such as bonus bets and deposit matches. Some industry analysts therefore suspect that a portion of the women who sign up for sportsbook apps may actually be men creating the accounts using female relatives' or friends’ information.
Do women also get addicted to gambling?
Even if a portion of female sign-ups are actually men, there are still millions of women betting themselves, and sadly gambling addiction does not discriminate by gender. The addictive nature of gambling can impact anyone regardless of sex, as gambling habits can start to feel out of control and negatively influence everyday life. Gambling can also impact the part of the brain that controls the reward response. Dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure, can be released when a bet is made or won, which can make the brain crave more of these “hits.”
Some women have been shown to use gambling as a release or escape from stress of daily lives. They also tend to more regularly play simple, quick games such as slots, video poker, bingo or the lottery.
While more research needs to be conducted around gambling addiction and gender, it is safe to say that millions of women suffer from gambling addiction. Studies have shown that female problem gamblers are less likely to seek help than men, which also impacts the data around women with gambling addiction. Previous research indicated that women accounted for approximately 33% of gambling addiction cases in the United States, but that figure is now widely viewed as an underestimate of the true number.
One woman who has become a face of female gambling addiction in the U.S. is Christina Cook, who saw gambling impact her life in so many ways that she ultimately felt, "This is going to take me. I don't want to be on this planet anymore."
She turned to Gamblers Anonymous for help, but quickly saw that the male-dominated dynamic of her group was not ideal. She explained, "When I was going to GA meetings, I was in a room full of men. I could connect on behaviors of my gambling addiction with the men in the room, but I had so many other issues going on. I knew I needed women's support; I knew there were other women who had gone through this, because I remember sitting there at the machine, looking to either side, and I was surrounded by women.”
Cook therefore founded “The Broke Girl Society,” a supportive community for women struggling with problem gambling. Cook regularly produces compelling experience-focused content on multiple platforms, including a podcast, YouTube channel and blog.
Birches Health is proud to support The Broke Girl Society by providing one-on-one virtual counseling for women across the country who are struggling with gambling addiction and related behavioral health problems.
Christina Cook, founder of The Broke Girl Society
Fighting the stigma around female gambling addiction
The Broke Girl Society is also helping combat the social stigma surrounding female gambling addiction. Women are less likely to be diagnosed with a gambling addiction than men, and the signs that a woman is struggling with a gambling addiction can be even more difficult to see.
Gambling has traditionally held a more masculine behavior profile, and the activity can carry more shame for women who find themselves addicted to gambling. Women also tend to participate in more online gambling than in-person, meaning the games can be easier to play in secret.
Some women may also face stigmatization in the gambling community, with instances of experiencing aggression, sexism and verbal abuse from other gamblers. Some women have even been called “bad mothers” or irresponsible for gambling in general, let alone if they then develop a gambling addiction.
In order to properly identify and treat gambling addiction in women, it is critical that the stigma around female gambling addiction is removed. Women have become one of the fastest-growing demographics in the gambling world, and reducing the barriers (social or otherwise) to support will be pivotal in helping women dealing with a gambling disorder.
Signs of Gambling Addiction in Women
Gambling addiction is often called a “silent” or “invisible” addiction, as the symptoms are usually not obvious to others.
Common warning signs of gambling addiction in women can include:
Preoccupation with gambling over other responsibilities
Inability to stop gambling or betting even when wanting and trying to do so
“Chasing” losses - betting more in attempt to win back what was lost previously
Feelings of guilt or shame surrounding gambling behaviors
Changes in personal health, sleep or eating habits due to gambling
Stress in relationships as a result of gambling
Financial struggles due to betting
Feelings of irritability, depression or stress when not gambling
Gambling addiction causes in women
Gambling has become more prevalent among women and the increase in women seeking out treatment for gambling addiction is rising in tandem. There are factors that research has found can impact developing a gambling addiction in women.
Women who are addicted to gambling also have higher rates of childhood abuse, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance abuse issues and personality disorders. It was also found that women were initially introduced to gambling through immediate family members and that gambling was used as a way to manage negative emotions or stress they were experiencing.
Click here to read more about potential causes of Gambling Addiction
Gambling Addiction treatment options for women
Women who are addicted to gambling may face barriers to support that are not as prevalent for men. In addition to the traditional options like Gamblers Anonymous and inpatient recovery centers, there are now modern options for treating gambling addiction such as virtual therapy.
Online counseling for gambling addiction is becoming a more popular option due to the anonymity and easy access to treatment. Birches Health offers 100% confidential therapy with specially trained gambling addiction therapists from the comfort of one's own home.
If you or a loved one is struggling with gambling addiction, there are multiple ways to connect with Birches Health today:
For immediate assistance, contact Birches Health at 833-483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com.
