Examining gender disparity in the casino sector
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According to a report by the US Department of Labor in 2000, the world witnessed immense development and transformation in society, economy, technology, and politics in the second half of the twentieth century. Among the various transformations, the changing role of men and women has been especially pronounced. Women's involvement in the global workforce has steadily increased since the 1950s, when about 30 percent of women were economically active.
Also, in 2009, the International Labour Organization reported that over 50 percent of women had joined the workforce by the new millennium's first decade. However, despite this steady progress in economic participation, disparity still exists in terms of employment opportunities, wages, and workplace segregation among men and women. The level and degree of gender differential fluctuate between industries and sectors of the economy.
Defining Gender
According to the Oxford Dictionary, gender means being female or male. It's not about biological differences but social and cultural ones. The UN says gender is about social attributes and opportunities. It is also the relationship between women and men. The UN advances the idea that these traits come from relationships and opportunities. They are taught and built through socialization. Also, when defined by gender, people face specific expectations.
Gender Issues in the Casino Industry
The gaming industry has seen a surge in online casinos. Depending on your desired features, many casino sites are tailored to meet your needs. For instance, casinoson AustraliaInternetPokies website are specially designed to cater to the needs of pokie players, whether male or female. Thus, reducing gender disparity in the iGaming industry. Although, the number of women who play games at online or land-based casinos is lower compared to that of men. Similarly, more men work in the gambling industry than women.
Modern technology has made it easy to gamble. Before, men gambled primarily, but now, more women are doing it too. Studies show that around 30% to 40% of online gamblers are women. But these numbers differ depending on the country. For instance, Sweden has the most female gamblers, followed by the UK, Italy, and Spain. Sweden's Gambling Commission says there are even more female players than other sources have reported.
In the same vein, in 2019, the UK Gambling Commission's report found that 43% of adults who gambled in the previous year were women. The report revealed that more women are gambling online often, with a 2% increase from the prior year. It was also discovered that only 11% of weekly players were women, but it rose to 17% in 2020. So, it's clear that online gambling is getting more popular among women over time.
Sports Betting Platforms and Women Participation
The increase in female players is because it's easy to gamble on tablets and smartphones. Also, gambling sites are more on social media, and ads are different now.
For instance, when we look at certain betting apps reported by GW Solutions, it was discovered that BetMGM, a sports betting platform, had the most significant increase in female users, up by 220%. Men also went up by 142%. However, FanDuel, another reputable sports betting platform, had the newest users overall, with 1.5 million more women and 3 million more men joining.
Workplace Trajectory
Women are essential in the iGaming industry as players and behind the scenes. This industry is still growing, and women are in all levels of management. Denise Coates, the founder and CEO of Bet365, is a well-known example, but there are many other successful women in iGaming. Thus, while there's still work to be done for gender equality, progress is also being made.
For example, the gambling sector in Malta employs about 6,000 people, and 43% of people in the Maltese iGaming industry are women. According to the latest report by the All-In Diversity Project, women also hold 28% of all top positions. Even though progress is still to be made, this is higher than the average in the UK and US.
Filling the Gap
Nowadays, more women are taking charge of game development, publishing, and management. They also appear as main characters and role models. But there's still a big issue: many women face abuse in games. Almost 75% of women say they've been harassed while playing online, and 59% hide their gender to avoid it. This needs to change.
Moving forward, leaders in the gaming industry need to recognize how much women matter for the future of gaming. They should welcome their ideas and make sure things keep improving. Here are some ways to do that:
- Gaming companies should find more ways to fight against bullying and sexism. For instance, they can use tools to monitor chats during games and let players report bad behavior. Also, ensuring fair and supportive game-making workplaces can help spread positive vibes to online gaming spaces.
- The casino industry should foster discussions and accountability. They must ensure everyone gets a fair chance in the gaming world.
- To empower more women in iGaming, brands should send their female workers to networking events. According to Jpost, networking events empower women in industries like tech and iGaming. Such events also celebrate women's resilience.
Final Thoughts
Women are becoming increasingly critical in iGaming. They're not just players but also leaders and creators. This is because the iGaming industry is constantly changing, and to keep up, casinos and other gambling brands must pay attention to what's happening. There's much to keep track of with rules and trends continually shifting. Right now, ensuring the casino industry has a voice for the female iGaming audience is incredibly vital.
This article was written in cooperation with australiainternetpokies.com
