The gambling world has as much space for women as it does for men. It is constantly evolving, and a clear indication of that evolution is the increase in women's involvement at gambling-related events.
Psychology Behind Why Women Gambling
Gambling can be quite exciting and addictive, especially for people who turn to the slots and tables to get out of the stress and frustration of their daily lives. While women may initially enjoy the excitement and glamour of casinos, the mind-set leading down the rabbit-hole of compulsive gambling can be quite different.
So, do women like to gamble? If yes, what is their psychology behind gambling? And how do men and women differ in their gambling habits? We set out to answer these questions and more in this article. So read on, and let's dive right into it.
What is the Psychology Behind Female Gambling?
Gambling is an intriguing psychological phenomenon for women and men alike. However, a woman's gambling habits are quite different from a man's.
Generally, women prefer a different range of casino games than men do, and they also prefer to go to a casino in groups if possible. In comparison, men prefer individual casino play and win or lose; male gamblers react to their victory or loss differently than females.
When women exhibit gambling problems, the behaviour manifests in different variations. For instance, if a pathological female gambler decides to steal to pay off a gambling debt, that potential criminal will most likely choose a different means of committing that crime than a man would.
Things that cause a good mood in their psyche for both genders can foster gambling. The simple reason for this is that a positive mood promotes more risk-taking.
Women are also prone to gambler's fallacy, a well-known psychological process that states that if an event occurs continuously, then a different event for certain is bound to occur.
The psychology of gambling in women typically stems from societal pressure and subtle discriminations that govern their approach towards the act. However, as a woman who loves to gamble, you can find the best casino deposit bonus, here. The bandwagon effect also plays a pivotal role in the gambling psychology of women. A typical example is when people participate in a lottery and get a lot of media attention. There is a natural craze about buying tickets because so many individuals want to join the bandwagon and not be left out of the process.
Women's Emotional Connection to Gambling
Some psychological and emotional factors explain why some women develop compulsive gambling disorders, and below, we discuss some of them.
● Excitement
This is created by the glitz and glamour of social gambling. The adrenaline and dopamine rush from winning creates additional anticipation of something bigger. Even after a woeful day having the spotlight shone on you for a few moments can bring back that feel-good feeling, albeit for a moment.
This excitement eventually gives birth to frequent trips and longer sessions spent gambling.
● Seeking an Escape
Women often internalize a lot of their stress and frustration. Playing the slots to block out the stress of daily life and other complex problems is a common theme among women with unhealthy gambling habits.
● Dysfunctional Relationships
Gambling helps women suffering from one dysfunctional experience or depress self-medicate and provides a false illusion of self-therapy, despite the negative financial and psychological effects of compulsive gambling.
Why Do Women Hide Their Gambling Habits?
Though it sounds like a cliché every time someone says it is a man’s world that appears to be the reality especially in regions where women are seen in certain lights if they do certain things. All of these and more are why it is not surprising seeing some women hide their gambling habits because they don’t want to be judged.
Women are often embarrassed when they have to seek mental treatment for gambling because they try to hide their gambling problems for as long as possible. It is common to find women gambling at an older age because they feel the brunt of emotional and psychological circumstances.
Women also feel that they will be more discriminated against than men who have the same gambling addiction, and there might be some truth. Men are more likely to react with anger and frustration when they lose, and they often play with aggression in such periods.
On the other hand, women often display signs of sadness or distress when they lose money. They tend to hide their triggers and would rather be caught in even more serious wrongdoing than gambling problems.
The psychology of gambling for women bears certain similarities to men's but is largely different. Problems with gambling can happen to everyone from any walk of life. Gambling often starts from a fun, harmless game to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. No matter your reasons for gambling, you should always approach it with caution and seek a guiding hand when you need help.
Tagged in Women's Issues