Gender bias has plagued humanity for centuries, and it is a terrible habit we are slowly stepping out of. However, most people still hold a secret penchant for pitting sexes against each other to see which one is better than the other. In gambling, the male versus female does not sound like the most worthwhile comparison to make. Nonetheless, it is a topic that has been discussed enough to prompt researchers into finding an answer.
Whether women are better gamblers than men has risen in recent times. For most of history, the activity was barred from the fairer gender. As recently as the twentieth century, most cultures upheld the notion that no self-respecting woman would visit gambling destinations unless they had a male chaperone. The media supported this notion with images of men gambling and women serving as onlookers only. As society continues to break down gender-bias barriers, women have taken to gambling like a burning house. In some countries, like Sweden, the percentage of female gamblers has surpassed that of men.
Now, with both genders in the gambling pool, researchers have wondered which one performs better in the field. Most studies found that when women and men are exposed to the same variables, the former tend to be more successful than the latter. On average, male gamblers lose about $4,800 gambling while women lose around $3,500. This leaves female punters with an average of $1300 fewer losses than men. The factors that support these results are rooted in many different reasons, including;
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Old-fashion beliefs
Old-fashioned sexism works in favour of women when gambling in brick-and-mortar casinos. While the world has taken significant steps to disregard the notion that men are smarter than women, some of it still lingers subconsciously in most people minds. This is especially the case when playing table games. For instance, casinos are adamant about their dislike of card counting. Everyone from the dealer and the pit boss to the eye in the sky is looking out for players working to beat the system. While there is no data on the rate of female and male card counters, the casino often observes male players more than female ones. Therefore, it takes longer for them to catch on, and by then, one has already collected significant payouts and probably moved on to the next establishment.
The same case applies in poker, a game that is mainly dominated by men. Even if female poker players have gone on to succeed in the craft and win championships, it is usually considered a special occurrence when there is a woman at the table. Playing poker has its complications since gamblers have to use their wits to determine whether other gamblers are bluffing or not. The same old-fashion notion of women often being overlooked can work to their advantage since they are sometimes disregarded as worthy competition.
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Playing dumb
Some women use the old notion that they are dumber than men to their advantage, which results in an excellent playing strategy. By playing into the assumptions about their gambling abilities, male dealers and players often come to women’s rescue and show them how to go about gameplay. Also, they can easily talk their way out of frowned upon practices like card counting in blackjack. While this practice is not widespread and there is no statistic to measure it, many women confess to using it to make their bank accounts prettier than when they started gameplay.
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Spending priorities
One of the research-backed reasons for women being better gamblers is how different their spending priorities are from men. One study showed that men think nothing of spending $125 on gambling on average, while women do not feel comfortable going above $85. Also, after observing online casinos, female gamblers deposit less and less often than their male counterparts. Although these habits decrease their chances of winning and winning big, they also cut down their chances of losing.
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Logic over emotion
Women are considered more aggressive gamblers than men because they study the odds to reduce as many risks as possible. For instance, in sports betting, males between 25 and 34 generate an average loss of 8.4%, while females of the same age group register winnings of up to 127%. This number goes even higher for the 35 to 44 age group category that turns in an average of 130%. This winning tendency boils down to the fact that women often make logic-based decisions rather than depending on their emotions. Female gamblers take time to assess a team or sport’s prowess to determine whether it is worth betting on rather than singling them out based on favourites. In most cases, men place bets based on loyalty despite current or historical performance.
Luck Factor
While women are generally better gamblers than men, the element of luck does not depend on gender to strike. If anything, men top most lists of the biggest gambling winners in history. This goes to show that casino results can swing either way for both men and women. Relying on your gender to collect payouts in online and offline casinos is a bogus strategy if it is not backed up by logical practices, including;
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Learn the game
No matter how dumb you play or distracting you dress, being a woman can only get you so far playing games like blackjack and poker that require some level of skill to win. Therefore, take time to learn the games using free sets online before putting real money on the line in land-based establishments.
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Manage your bankroll
Casino games are designed to lose more than win despite whether male or female gamblers are playing. Ensure you approach a gambling table or machine with a set amount of cash that you can lose comfortably. Also, learn to walk away once the funds run out to avoid losing more while chasing your original bankroll.
Wrap Up
While gender is not considered a significant factor in singling out the best in casinos, it appears women take the crown as the better gamblers. This is no surprise once you understand that most of them spend less than men and often think through their betting decisions.