What is the role of gender in betting and gambling: an analysis of preferences and patterns of responsible gambling

Introduction:
In the vast landscape of betting and gambling, the nuances of gender differences have become increasingly apparent. Delving beyond the shared excitement of risk and reward, recent studies highlight distinctive betting and gambling styles between men and women. Understanding these differences not only shapes the gaming industry’s approach but also provides crucial insights for fostering responsible gaming practices.

Risk-Taking Behavior:
Men, often influenced by societal expectations that celebrate risk and competition, are drawn to high-stakes games. Poker, renowned for its strategic depth, and sports betting, requiring analytical prowess, are prime examples. The allure lies in the adrenaline rush associated with the potential for substantial wins.
Women, conversely, lean toward games with lower risk factors. Slot machines and bingo, dominated by chance, provide a more relaxed gaming experience. The motivation for women is often rooted in entertainment, socializing, and the joy of shared experiences rather than a relentless pursuit of financial gains.
Acknowledging these differences allows operators to implement tailored interventions. Offering diverse game portfolios that cater to varied risk appetites promotes responsible gaming. Providing clear information on risk levels and promoting low-stakes options can ensure a safer gaming environment.

Choice of Games:
Men’s inclination toward skill-based games aligns with the desire for competition and strategic challenges. Poker rooms and sportsbooks cater to this preference, fostering an environment where knowledge and skill play pivotal roles.
Women’s preference for chance-based games emphasizes luck and sociability. Slot machines, known for their simplicity, and bingo, a communal game, cater to these preferences. For women, the enjoyment derived from the game’s atmosphere often surpasses the quest for competitive triumph.
Offering a diverse game library that includes both skill-based and chance-based options promotes inclusivity. Implementing features like reality checks and spending limits encourages responsible engagement across all game types.

Motivations for Gambling:
Men’s motivations are often linked to financial gains and the thrill of competition. Winning signifies status and achievement, reinforcing the appeal of high-stakes endeavors.
Women find motivation in social and recreational aspects. Gambling is a form of entertainment and a means of connecting with friends. Viewing losses as part of the cost of entertainment, women prioritize the experience over the outcome.
Promoting responsible gaming involves understanding and addressing these motivations. Establishing clear communication on the recreational nature of gambling and the importance of budgetary constraints cultivates a healthier gaming culture.

Frequency of Play:
Men’s more frequent and impulsive gambling behavior can be attributed to the social acceptability of engaging in competitive and risk-oriented activities regularly.
Women, considering gambling as a periodic social activity, are more likely to align their habits with social events or special occasions.
Recognizing these patterns allows operators to implement targeted harm reduction measures. Providing tools for self-assessment, setting session limits, and encouraging periodic breaks contribute to a more controlled gaming experience.

Conclusion:

Decoding gender dynamics in betting and gambling unveils a spectrum of preferences that can inform responsible gaming practices. Extracting good practices involves tailoring interventions, offering diverse gaming options, and fostering open communication about the nature of gambling. By recognizing these distinctions, the gaming industry can embrace inclusivity and responsibility, creating an environment where both men and women can enjoy gaming safely and responsibly.

Embracing the less risky behavior exhibited by women in gambling provides a valuable blueprint for instilling more responsible gaming practices among men.Educating male players about the benefits of a more measured approach, implementing spending limits, and encouraging a mindset that views losses as part of the overall entertainment experience contribute to fostering responsible gaming habits. Ultimately, by leveraging the strengths of both gender approaches, the gaming industry can create a more balanced and responsible environment for all players.

China Adopts New Rules to Restrict Video Game addictions

Chinese regulators have announced a wide range of new rules aimed at restricting the use of video games. This was made clear by the National Press and Publications Administration.

According to the new rules, video game manufacturers will be prohibited from awarding prizes to players in the following cases: if they play every day; if they give money for the game for the first time or if they make consecutive purchases in the game. They will also not be allowed to offer random draws features to minors and allow auctions of virtual gaming items. In addition, manufacturers will impose limits on digital wallets for in-game spending.

The new rules included a proposal that is widely expected to be welcomed by the industry, requiring regulators to process game approvals within 60 days.

As the time passes by it shows that Beijing becomes firmer when it comes to videogames and their distribution. In 2021, China set strict playtime limits for under the age of 18 and suspended approvals of new video games for about eight months, citing gaming addiction concerns.

Small steps to overcome addictions during the holidays

The festive season begins with a focus on family, friends and Christmas food, but it also marks a challenging time for those prone to online, gaming and gambling addictions. The heightened emotions and expectations, the pressure associated with the period, combined with a balance sheet and a desire to achieve quick successes, create an uncertain situation for people with risky addictions.

Financial turmoil is often only the initial challenge. The vicious cycle of various addictions leads to greater losses, encouragement of lying, absenteeism, strained social and intimate relationships, borrowing money. The online space and games are a source of information, a resource for training and professional development, a means of stress relief and management, and should not become a burden and addiction that depends entirely on the will of those who use them. Addressing these problems in their early stages is critical to preventing them from becoming a repetitive pattern of unhealthy behavior sustained over weeks or months, marked by a loss of impulse control in various addictions.

What are possible ways to get addiction problems under control, especially during Christmas and the festive season?

Communication:
Discussing the issues driving people to extremes and different types of addiction with family, friends or psychologists and therapists can provide valuable support. The confidentiality that is provided when consulting with a therapist facilitates the process of dealing with the problem. The goal is to strike a balance, preserving utility and enjoyment, but not going in the direction of heavy deviations.

By careful control over finances:
This safeguard is crucial during the holidays, especially when extra cash flows like Christmas bonuses increase the risk of more reckless behavior.

Software that warns about excessive online presence or excessively long games:
Using the software available to reach unhealthy phases of behavior provides relief and peace of mind, especially when it comes to specific sites where more volatile users reside.

Self control:
Visiting the same sites and social networks wastes valuable time, leads to unrealized opportunities, and trying to recover monetary losses often leads to increasing debt. Interrupting the visit or fixing a reasonable time for residence or play ensures that enjoyment is preserved without harmful consequences.

Avoiding Isolation:
Accepting invitations to celebrations or events with family, friends or colleagues, as well as engaging with positive initiatives and individuals, can help limit the temptation of online, gaming and gambling addiction.

Planning alternative activities:
Replacing online activities with alternative plans on certain days such as family outings, sports, hobbies moves away from unhealthy patterns.

Vacation and vacation planning:
Vacations protect from the days of pre-holiday chaos of the season, provide a variety of entertainment options that ensure the impossibility of isolation stumbling into an online or gambling addiction.

By incorporating these small behavioral strategies, people can get through the holiday season with greater emotional resilience and healthy use of online activities, ensuring more enjoyable holiday behaviors for themselves and their loved ones. While the factors contributing to the increased interest in online content and games around the holidays are obvious, awareness of the potential risks remains crucial throughout the year. Not everyone will be affected in the same way, and some may not experience a change in their habits over this period, but this once again highlights the importance of individualized approaches to addressing addiction challenges.

Responsible Gaming Foundation Continues to Support the Addiction Helpline

Responsible Gaming Foundation continues to support the unique helpline for prevention and assistance of addicts, which is free of charge for them. The National Drugs, Alcohol and Gambling Helpline is maintained by psychologists and experts from the Association for Rehabilitation of Addictions “Solidarnost”, with which the Foundation is partnering.

“I am happy to announce that in 2024 we will continue to support the national helpline. We have seen good results since we started funding it and many people have received help from specialists”, said Milena Tsankarska, Executive Director of the Responsible Gaming Foundation.

The national helpline provides opportunities for prevention and support, with experts assessing each specific situation individually and paying special attention to the family environment and relatives, who are also provided with the necessary assistance in resolving various issues.

The consultation is completely free, and calls are anonymous, unless the caller himself wants to introduce himself. You should contact the specialists from “Solidarnost” by phone +359 888 99 18 66.

Responsible Gaming Foundation successful participation in BEGE 2023 has ended

During this year’s edition of the Balkan Gaming Expo BEGE 2023, the Responsible Gaming Foundation presented its initiative “In Focus: Responsible Gaming”, strengthened partnerships and organized an event where licensed operators and organizers of gambling presented their successful campaigns and policies for prevention of unreasonable gaming behavior in the form of Case Studies.

The topic of responsible gaming was largely discussed during the Eastern European Gaming Summit EEGS, during which experts such as Peter Remers, Dan Iliovici, Zoran Puhach and Rossi McKee, co-founder of the Responsible Gaming Foundation, commented on the latest innovations, methods and ways to deal with irresponsible gaming behavior.

During the last two BEGE exhibitions, the Responsible Gaming Foundation and the Association of Gaming Industry in Bulgaria (AGIB) participated with a common stand. The two organizations are long-term partners and over the years have jointly implemented a number of initiatives, including trainings and seminars promoting responsible gaming behavior. Their latest initiative is “On Focus: Responsible Gaming” and started in October 2023. Its purpose is to promote the policies of reasonable behavior when using the products of the gaming industry; to work towards increasing the culture of consumers in terms of responsible behavior in play and the level of understanding of responsible gaming. The initiative will unfold in 2024, when more seminars, webinars and conferences on responsible gaming will take place.